Inkstand with sleeping knight

Faenza 15th or 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

An armored knight and the rectangular trough he lies next to are both on a slightly larger pedestal base in this freestanding, vibrantly colored maiolica inkstand. The earthenware object was covered with tin-oxide glaze, which, when fired, results in royal blue, grass green, pale orange, and brown hues. The knight’s skin is the white of the earthenware, and his armor is blue and orange. He lies down, using his helmet as a pillow to our left. Both knees are bent, and his hands are by his sides. A staff or lance lies at his feet to our right. The base has a coat of arms on the center front, and two animals, perhaps deer, lie to either side. The base is outlined in green or blue, and it rests on four brown, paw-shaped feet.