Wine cooler with A Pageant Battle with Elephants

Maker:: Workshop of the Fontana family (Italian, active ca. 1553–80)

Date:: ca. 1562–75

Culture:: Italian, Urbino

Medium:: Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)

Dimensions:: Overall (confirmed): 12 7/8 × 23 1/2 × 23 1/2 in. (32.7 × 59.7 × 59.7 cm)

Classification:: Ceramics-Pottery

Credit Line:: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931

Accession Number:: 32.100.362

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 503

Coolers were set near the table on a credenza or sideboard, visible to diners and within easy reach of servants. They are designed to be viewed from any side, but especially from above when empty. When not in use, coolers remained in place to convey the owner’s refined taste and, due to the relatively inexpensive medium, personal modesty.

Inscription: On underside of foot, black-bordered rectangular label: ON LOAN FROM / A Barker esq. / August 22 1860 (South Kensington Museum loan label)

Alexander Barker , London (by 1860–ca. 1870; sold, with the Barker collection, too Cook); Sir Francis Cook , Doughty House, Richmond, Surrey (ca. 1870–d. 1901; to his son, Wyndham); Wyndham Francis Cook , London (from 1901; to his son, Humphrey) ; Humphrey Wyndham Cook , London (until 1925; his sale, Christie's, London, July 7–10, 1925, no. 82; sold for £346 10s. to Durlacher Brothers); [ Durlacher Brothers , New York, from 1925 ] ; Michael Friedsam , New York (until d. 1931; bequeathed to MMA)

Essays
Maiolica in the Renaissance

Timelines
Florence and Central Italy, 1400-1600 A.D.

Maiolica: Italian Renaissance Ceramics in The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (42,166)

Artist / Maker / Culture

Fontana family (1)

Object Type / Material