17th-Century Sicilian Blue-and-White Majolica Pilgrim Flask, Caltagirone

Details

Description

A substantial Sicilian pilgrim flask, attributed to Caltagirone and dated to the seventeenth century, fashioned in tin-glazed earthenware with hand-painted … Read more A substantial Sicilian pilgrim flask, attributed to Caltagirone and dated to the seventeenth century, fashioned in tin-glazed earthenware with hand-painted cobalt-blue decoration. Its broad, flattened ovoid body rises from a low foot to a short neck with a projecting collar and horizontally ribbed mouth. Twelve applied strap loops, arranged in descending rows of six along either side, give the vessel its distinctive sculptural outline. Each loop carries parallel blue stripes that repeat the painted bands around the foot and neck.

The principal face depicts a haloed, bearded saint in flowing robes, identifiable as Saint Anthony Abbot through his book and characteristic tau-shaped staff with a suspended bell. The reverse presents a second bearded religious figure wearing a hooded robe and holding a staff, his head framed by a radiating halo. His precise identity remains uncertain. Bold foliate scrolls, curling leaves, and dotted accents surround both figures, creating an ornamental framework that follows the contours of the vessel.

The repeated lateral loops and devotional decoration relate the flask to the ceramic traditions of Caltagirone. Its painter uses broad blue washes alongside finer strokes to articulate faces, hands, and the rhythmic folds of the garments, allowing the pale glaze to supply highlights. The term pilgrim flask describes the vessel’s recognizable form; its original use and any association with a particular pilgrimage or religious community are undocumented. The individual potter or workshop remains unidentified.

Measurements: 16" H × 13" W × 9" D. See less