Lyon faience, a form of tin-glazed earthenware…

Lyon faience, a form of tin-glazed earthenware produced at Lyon, originally made by Italian potters, remains close to its Italian prototype, the so-called istoriato Urbino maiolica, the subjects of which are either historical, mythological, or biblical.

Such, for instance, is a large, circular dish (British Museum) inscribed “Lyon, 1582,” the overall decoration of which had obviously been inspired by an illustration in Jean de Tournes's Bible, published in Lyon in 1554.

The dish is possibly the work of an Italian, Giulio Gambini, who will later become a partner at Nevers.