Architectural bracket

The Della Robbia name grew in popularity as Luca’s descendants expanded the workshop’s offerings beyond statues and relief sculpture to include decorative furnishings and architectural ornament. Glazed terracotta’s ability to withstand the elements allowed the material to be used outdoors, while its bright color and consistent surface sheen gave it legibility when placed high and viewed from a distance. This exquisitely rendered bracket, however, was probably made to be viewed up close where it would have supported a devotional relief such as the Virgin Adoring the Christ Child (65.181.23).