Dish with Scene of Atilius Regulus Battling the African Serpent

Decorator Ignaz Preissler (German, 1676 - 1741)

Dateca. 1725

MediumChinese porcelain with enamel

DimensionsOverall: 11 inches (27.94 cm)

Credit LinePurchase: acquired through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Earl D. Wilberg

Object numberF85-5

On View

Not on view

Collections

Architecture, Design and Decorative Arts

Terms

DescriptionIn the left foreground, the scene depicts a man sitting astride a rearing horse; in the right foregound, another armored man, representing Attila Regulus holding a spear and also astride a horse aiming his bow and arrow; and in the center foreground, a third armored man running and about to draw his sword. The focus of the battle is a snakelike serpent in the throes of death. background, legions of soldiers on foot and on horseback attack the creature as well.Gallery Label

Gallery Label

Although Europe discovered how to produce porcelain in 1709, Asian wares (such as this example) remained relatively less expensive and continued to be imported. The Dish with Scene of Atilius Regulus arrived from China undecorated and was then enameled in Germany by Ignaz Preissler. The dish shows the Roman Consul Attilius Regulus (3rd century BCE) battling a giant serpent, a representation of the African Carthaginians, Rome's great enemy.

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