This is the only known ewer of this shape with millefiori decoration. More common are blue ewers, some with pincered decoration and applied opaque white trails. The millefiori pieces which give this ewer its colorful appearance, are cane sections, not beads or bead chips with hole. Venetian-made vessels with this decoration are rare. Because of the wide distribution of similarily decorated vessels, the presence of Venetian-made cane sections cannot serve as proof that they were made in Venice. Instead, a wider range of production centers-including Spain, where the Islamic style of such ewers would be favored-can be suggested.
Physical DescriptionPitcher. Colorless glass with green tinge and many minute bubbles, and cane slices in color combinations (1) blue, white, red, white, red; (2) blue, white, red, white, blue(?); (3) transparent yellow, white, red, white, colorless; (4) transparent yellow, white, red, white, blue, white, red(?); Mold-blown, gilded, applied. Compressed globular body with attenuated neck, rim widened into cup-shape. From shoulder upwards mold-blown with spiral ribs, and applied gold-leaf decoration. Lower part of body with second, thin, somewhat irregularily edged gather, mold-blown with vertical ribs, gold leaf decoration, and marvered-in multicolored cane slices. Applied colorless thread below rim. Ear-shaped, ribbed and gilded handle, applied below rim and cast-off on shoulder. Outer ribs on top of handle pinched into two vertical prunts that form a thumb rest. The lower end of handle tooled with pincers as well. Curved, attenuated spout reaching up from shoulder, with applied thread on rim, applied, pincered prunt on back and second, bifurcated prunt on front. Some canes and gilding have been drawn up onto the spout. Attached blown, pedestal foot, widened in the middle, with 12 ribs, outfolded edge, and rough pontil mark in apex. Top portion of foot, including the widened area down into the constriction, with applied, multicolored cane slices, but no gilding. The second gather, gilding, and canes have been applied before blowing the vessel to its final size, thereby tearing the gold into tiny flakes and distorting the canes. The neck has been gilded before applying a second gather to the body, which was gilded subsequently. Provenance
