There was a series of artifacts that were offered to women to celebrate the main events that marked their life: the engagement, the wedding and the childbirth. These objects, symbolically evocative, also assumed a great social value linked to the female figure in the society of the time.
The role of women
“Non è di bisogno fare memoria delle femmine: quando sarà il tempo del maritare, se vengono a quello istato allora ne faremo memoria", this was the consideration of the daughters, that is, worthy of mention only once they reached the age for the wedding.
A plate with two clasped hands and with the writing "Fides" within polychrome bandsCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
Marriage was preceded by lengthy negotiations, which were led by an intermediary. The two families, united by marriage, created a new kinship bond, but above all a new social and economic alliance.
It was customary for the father of the bride-to-be and the future husband, or a family member, to enter into the marriage agreement, privately, sanctioned by a symbolic handshake.
The wonderful carvings of the wedding coffer
Between the agreement of the families and the actual engagement day, there was an intermediate period in which the house was prepared for the newlyweds. The wedding coffer was donated during these months.
A small bone wedding coffer A small bone wedding coffer by A "nailed figure" workshopCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
The future husband undertook to deliver the bride-to-be a small chest, which was delivered by a messenger appointed by him and accompanied by a group of young men and women.
A small bone wedding coffer A small bone wedding coffer by A "nailed figure" workshopCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
The cost and the content of the gift can be obtained from a tax declaration of 1415: out of a total expenditure of 524 florins for the whole wedding, 91 were spent
A small bone wedding coffer A small ivory wedding coffer by A "nailed figure" workshopCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
"per un forzierino d’avorio entrovi tre cintole belle, una a falconi, una a razi e una smaltata, item due ghirlande una piena di smalti parigini e una più feriale, item una catena di ariento inorata et uno coltellino smaltato".
A small bone wedding coffer A small bone wedding coffer by A "nailed figure" workshopCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
The amount of money must have been considerable even for a wealthy family since, as evidenced by another marriage negotiation of 1381: "A small chest could cost from 70 to 75 florins".
In short, the gift of coffers, more or less precious depending on the wealth of the family, was a practice that concerned the upper middle class, the mercantile one and the Tuscan aristocracy in particular.
A hemispherical bowl depicting a female bustCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
The "Belle Donne", the "Gamos" and the symbolism of Renaissance majolica
The best political alliances were woven through marriageable young women and this also led to the consolidation of family assets.
For this very reason, the future husband honored himself by commissioning precious artifacts to be offered as a gift, rather than to pay homage to the woman, to flaunt the wealth and power of his family.
A plate depicting a female profile with a veil hairstyle on a blue backgroundCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
The gifts also include various types of majolica, such as the “Belle Donne” type, beautiful women, an original expression of Renaissance majolica, bearing the face of the beloved, portrayed from life or stereotyped.
A bowl depicting a rabbit on the lawnCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
Another amatory pottery are the so-called gametes, from "gàmos" which means "wedding". They contained greedy gifts such as sugared almonds, sweets or small fruits.
These artifacts show images related to fertility, such as the hare or the rabbit, which have always been considered a symbol of abundance with a good luck value.
A plate with a winged heart on a blue background and checkerboard floorCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
Others allude directly to the passion of love, played by a plump winged heart...
A plate depicting a flaming heart in a fantasy landscape within a geometric frame with crossed ribbonsCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
… Or represented by a lively burning heart, surmounted by tongues of fire.
A small trilobate mug with a flaming heart pierced by a scroll with the inscription "c 1510"Collezione Fondazione Cariparma
The evocative images are also found on the trefoil mugs, where the great flaming heart is the protagonist of the decoration.
An urn marriage chest with gold highlights and lion's paw feetCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
Domumductio
After the engagement, the wedding ceremony was very complex; it was divided into a series of ceremonies with a strong public value. The "domumductio" started the celebrations.
The procession with the bride paraded through the streets of the city, to reach her new home as a married woman; she was also followed by musicians and servants carrying the pair of wedding chests containing her trousseau.
A "tondino" plate depicting a cupid with a smiling fac, in the act of shooting an arrow into love knots by Pirota's workshopCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
The wedding feasts
To publicly reaffirm the marriage alliance, a series of feasts were celebrated, enlivened by music and dances, which in turn offered an opportunity to flaunt one's wealth.
Wealth and power were shown through the courses, but also through the dishes, which in the documents of the time are recorded as “credenze”, sideboards, from the name of the piece of furniture on which they were displayed.
A plate or a cup on foot with a decoration depicting a race between Apollo and Pan; on the foot the inscription "apollo e pano / s.i.m. / s.m."Collezione Fondazione Cariparma
Plates and bowls, grand style objects rather than for everyday use, were placed on sideboards, carefully arranged to create a decorative domestic triumphal apparatus, to be flaunted and admired.
A spherical cap plate with an equine skull shield decoration and the "Anima Mia" monogramCollezione Fondazione Cariparma
The parade pieces were commissioned with subjects particularly suited to the event, such as the long love story between Galeotto Manfredi, Lord of Faenza, and Cassandra Pavoni, whose surname inspired the decor of this dish.
Their great love was ended only by his death, which was followed by Cassandra’s choice to become a nun with the name of Sister Benedetta.
Text by Fondazione Cariparma and Artificio Società Cooperativa
