Featured help with little jug, italian ?

hi folks

can anyone help with any info on this little (4") jug

havent got a clue , thinking maybe italian ?

Glazed inside

no marks at all

side seams

any thoughts appreciated (sorry they are so dark but it is so late)

 

Cute, charlie.

I am inclined to agree. But let's wait for the others.

 

Thanks aj, do you think the blue oval is a face ?

 

Yes I do. Maybe @Bronwen can link it to a Classical image?

 

Really miss Walter del P. Not convinced there is a face there. Would expect corresponding panel on the other side of the handle to match if it were:



As a face, it gestalts as sort of Medusa-ish. However, really not sure there is anything in the decoration that would violate Islamic proscription on depicting living things.

Like it very much. Condition suggests not much age & may be more decorative than functional. Still, a handsome piece. Have you poked around in the world of majolica?

 

Italian?

 

Colors used put me in mind of Renaissance pieces:

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitio...c720dc-9d40-4726-8c65-e770c7b5127c&pkgids=383

My particular favorite:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/colle...9&pkgids=383&pg=0&rpp=20&pos=8&ft=*&offset=20

 

Thanks for the info Bronwen, glad you like it. I did search at first using majolica as a search term but couldn't find any similar

 

Or Spain. I really only meant that all the designs could be abstract, although some hint at faces or plants. I'm thinking more about influences, not having any substantial knowledge at all.

 

Totally agree w @Bronwen on the renaissance color scheme...more examples:

https://www.nga.gov/features/slideshows/italian-renaissance-ceramics.html

 

I see, I was wondering about the jump to Islamic. But you are right, the entire Mediterranean was influenced by the Islamic world.

There is no Islamic proscription on depicting living things though. There is on depicting the Prophet and his family. But there are always regional or sectarian prohibitions, as with anything.
As you can see here, people, animals, and plants on a Persian Qajar dynasty tile:

 

Looking at all the wonderful fine linked examples, it's not even in the same league is it chalk and cheese !

I wondered if the face(if it is a) was supposed to be this(what ever that is !)

https://www.veniceclayartists.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/41235636_1be2e6c784.jpg

 

It is only small, give it a break. Who knows what it will grow into, with some tlc.

I was thinking along the same lines.

 

I shall keep the little fledgling close to my chest, and speak words of encouragement onto it as if I were its own mother

 

although these examples are by no means a match, i do think now, its this type of english majolica with a nod. looking at constuction of jar itself, seams etc

https://allthingsvintage.com.au/product/large-rare-shorter-son-majolica-bacchus-jug/

https://www.ripleyauctions.com/item/shorter/

 

It is something I was starting to consider as well. I think we need @Ownedbybear on this one.

 

I don't think it's a Brit. Now, I'll have to try and justify that. The colours aren't typical of our majolica and the clay/base are much too white. Not convinced on the motifs, either.

 

And reading again, I'm with Davy. I suspect a relatively recent thing from Portugal.