History of Manisses

History of Manisses

Spanish Pottery history dates back to medieval times, dominated then by Arab and Moorish Invaders who brought with them the methodology of Tin-Glazed and lustred earthenware. The Valencian suburbs of Paterna and Manisses, from the 15th century onwards, were the main centres of the industry. It was here, under Christian rule however, that Moorish potters produced ceramics decorated in blue and white and blue and gold lustre.

Christian emblems along with Arabic inscription gradually merged together with epigraphs in Gothic letters, together with heraldic and foliate patterns of power and distinction with the human figure rarely represented.

Famous French and Italian families, such as those of René of Anjou and Lorenzo de' Medici superbly depicted on alberelli and great dishes, indicate that these objects were highly prized and valued as a sign of high social status, indeed contemporary writings assert that 'Manisses work was gilded and painted in mastery fashion, with which the whole world is in love--people, cardinals and princes ordering it by special favour, and marveling that things of such excellence and nobility could be made from clay'. Towards the latter part of the 15th Century gadrooned and relief-decorated pieces started to appear while Persian arabesques were still in use.

As the number of aristocratic patronage declined throughout the 16th century this was reflected in the diminishing number of coats-of-arms being commissioned and though manufacture continued there has been no revival of it's previous excellence.

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