17th Century Italian Deruta Maiolica Salt

17th Century Italian Deruta Maiolica Salt, probably made in Caltagirone in Sicily, the central circular dish within four scroll dishes supported by a Sphinxes and lions on on a cross shaped base and bun feet, painted in blue, manganese and ochre.Maiolica is a technique developed in Italy in the 14th century where a terracotta body is covered by a glaze which includes tin oxide to give an opaque white ground. This technique was originally used to imitate Chinese porcelain before the secret of the method of making porcelain was discovered. During the 15th and 16th centuries this opaque white ground then allowed the Italian potters to produced extravagant painted Renaissance style designs in the manner of the great artists of the day