What is it?
A vase probably made in Tuscany in the early 1500s. It has a white tin-glaze in imitation of oriental china, with hand-painted decorations. This type of pottery is known as ‘Majolica’.
What’s its story?
This beautiful vase was produced in Italy for export to England. It displays the Tudor royal coat of arms (although the continental potter has mistakenly reversed the lions and the fleur-de-lis).
Such rare imports were treasured possessions by wealthy patrons like the royal household. You will see similar vases in Tudor paintings, often holding flowers and peacock feathers.
This vase can be found in the Tudor Kitchens here at Hampton Court, along with hundreds of other reproductions produced from surviving Tudor kitchen vessels and implements.
