Broad-rimmed bowl with border of dolphins and "delphigriffs"; in the center, head of a young man

Probably Urbino district 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is an ornate ceramic bowl. In the center there is a bust of a person in profile facing the left, with short hair and a cloth wrapped around their shoulders. This design is done in white against a dark blue background. This center image is circled by a cream inner ring containing floral designs in white. The wide edge of the bowl features several large creatures, including two large fish at the bottom and two creatures on the top that have the tail of fish but the wings and head of bird. At the top, between the winged creatures, there is a cherubic face set within a cluster of round fruit above a vase. There is another bowl of fruit between the fish at the bottom, and some designs that look like crossed swords and round shields. These designs are also done in white against a dark blue background. The rim of the bowl is yellow in some places and seems to have faded to white in others.