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Jose A. Cunha
Palissy Majolica Bowl Snake Spider Frog Caterpillar Butterfly Lizard

circa 1870s

About the Item

This Jose A Cunha Portuguese Palissy Majolica plate features a snake, spider, frog, caterpillar, and butterfly on green shredded clay ground. The piece bears the maker's marks for Jose A Cunha pottery. Palissy ware is a style of ceramics that is also known as rusticware due to their earth-toned palettes and naturalistic plant and animal scenes that are cast to it. The style was coined in reference to the 16th century French potter Bernard Palissy and experienced a significant revival in the 19th century thanks to Charles-Jean Avisseau. It's strongest revival however was in Portugal where it was produced by the potteries of Mafra, Jose A. Cunha, Alves, José Francisco de Sousa, Cezar, Herculano Elias, and Augusto Baptista de Carvalho. Majolica is earthenware coated with colored lead glazes applied directly to an unglazed body. This work is designed to be set on a table or hung on a wall. José Alves Cunha (1849-1901) was a potter in Portugal. He established a porcelain factory in Caldas de Rainha in 1860. His pieces have been displayed at the International Exhibition in Paris (1867), at the International Exhibition in Philadelphia (1876), and at the International Exhibition in Paris (1900).
  • Creator:
    Jose A. Cunha
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1870s
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 2 in (5.08 cm)Width: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Depth: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Very good condition.
  • Gallery Location:
    Detroit, MI
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU128616998032

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