Venice or Florence, Italy
Around 1475–1550
Painted enamel and gold leaf on copper
29.5 cm
This is part of a large family of enamelware primarily made for domestic use. These wares are always decorated in blue, green and white, with details picked out in shimmering gold leaf. These were long assumed to be Venetian, related to the city’s famed glassmaking. However, new research suggests they might be Florentine, perhaps created by a goldsmith for the lower end of the luxury market.