The Weavers of Sardinia

This is a large decorative charger in terracotta, made in Sardinia in the 1960s or 1970s. The centre shows two women in traditional Sardinian dress. The border is a ring of figures in costume, linked hand to hand in the ballo tondo, the Sardinian circle dance, alternating with ears of wheat. The decoration is incised through the surface in fine parallel lines and painted by hand, so the bare terracotta shows between the colours. The motifs on the textiles in the scene are taken from Sardinian weaving, which remains one of the island's best-known crafts.

Origin: Italy (Sardinia)
Sourced in: Parma
Era: c.1960s–1970s
Materials: Incised and hand-painted terracotta
Dimensions: Dia 35 cm
Condition: Good vintage condition, with the paintwork bright and intact. Light wear to the rim is consistent with age. Refer to photographs.