Metal-finished plate from the Clavellinas series. Manises, 18th century

Plate with metallic highlights from the Clavellinas series. Manises, 17th century.
Hand-painted ceramic with metallic sheen.
It has some chipped areas.
Measurements: 7 cm (height) x 29 cm (diameter).
Manises pottery featuring the "clavellinas" decoration, which flourished throughout the 17th century, originated from the Pardalot series, which was still in production during the first third of that century. In all of these pieces, clavellinas flowers cover most of the surface of the bowls and plates. The preference for small-scale floral decoration is considered an influence from Alcora, although Manises reinterprets it in its own distinctive way.
Metal-glazed pottery would become the great art form of the Nasrid period, although it originated in Spain during the Almohad era, between the second half of the 12th century and the first half of the 13th. In later periods, it would flourish particularly in Manises, where the Hispano-Muslim tradition would continue in both technical and decorative aspects. This is glazed pottery—that is, coated with a white glaze, very pure in the finest examples—which is fired in a kiln. Once cooled, the piece is decorated with a pigment composed of five basic ingredients: copper, silver, sulfur, iron oxide, and vinegar. The final hue depends on the proportions of these components, resulting in a more golden tone if it contains a greater amount of silver, and a more reddish tone if copper predominates. Finally, the piece is fired a second time at 650°C in a reducing atmosphere to set the decoration. Once fired, the decoration appears black, so it must be burnished to achieve the final shiny metallic golden hue.