Dish with Coat of Arms

In the late 17th century Italian maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware) often adopted the sculptural forms of silverware. Potters from the northern Italian coastal town of Savona in Liguria were famed for their sumptuous blue and white pottery, imitating both the decoration on Chinese porcelain and the shapes of precious silverware. They used moulds to create imposing shapes for their tableware, to which were often added family crests.