A Netherlands Maiolica Vase from the Tower of London

Amongst a quantity of broken pottery of various periods found last year during excavations in the moat of the Tower of London is a vase which throws some light on the obscure question of the origin of Netherlands maiolica. The vase is complete except for the foot, which was missing and has been restored in plaster in what is probably a correct reconstruction of its original form. The shape is well enough shown in the accompanying illustrations (pls. LV, LVI) to call for no description. It is virtually the same as that of a vase in many respects similar which was dug up some years ago in the City of London and was bought for the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1938 at the sale of the collection of the late Mr. William Ridout (pl. LVII); of this second vase also only the body and neck remain, the missing foot having similarly been made good in plaster.