Portuguese 'Palissy' Majolica Plate

A Portuguese 'Palissy' Majolica dish from the early 20th century c. 1920. The green splash-glazed body has applied seaweed fronds, mussel shells, and clams surrounding a gravel-applied reserve with an applied fully sculpted crab.

This Portuguese plate was inspired by figurines rustiques of French potter Bernard Palissy (pronounced palace-ay) (1510-1590). Although trained as a stained glass artist, he created his own style of pottery by casting real fish, reptiles, insects and amphibians in clay, and composing them all together on a plate. People admired his original wares, purchased them and promptly placed them on their sideboards as decoration, for no one could possibly eat off of them. Villa Finale has five of these 20th century reproduction plates, which are hung on the Kitchen wall.