Pierre Reymond was one of the greatest enamellers in Limoges. These tazzas are part of an important service and are among the many enamels produced by Reymond and his workshop. It is interesting to see the combination of mythological scenes with religious subjects. The main scenes depicted on the tazzas show Old Testament figures: Moses, David, and Solomon. The secondary scenes are mostly mythological. Some of the enamels Reymond produced had motifs or decoration used to criticize the Catholic Church such as monks with donkey’s ears. You can spot this element on a plaque attributed to Master I.C., probably Jean de Court, next to these tazzas. Biblical figures were seen as wise, which is interesting given the historical context. In the sixteenth century, religious wars divided France’s citizenry; and artists, even those under the patronage of the king or his entourage, were not immune to the conflict. A compelling example is the Huguenot artist Bernard Palissy, who is believed to have made the Saint-Porchaire ewer displayed in the next room. Palissy died at the Bastille, where he was sent due to his beliefs. We do not know if Reymond was a Huguenot or a Catholic. His patrons were both, and he likely adapted his subjects accordingly.
Covered Tazza (One of a Pair)
These tazzas are part of a larger service with arms generally attributed to Pierre Séguier (1504–1580) or one of his relatives. The iconography derives from woodcuts by Bernard Salomon (ca. 1508 or 1510–ca. 1561) that illustrates Les Quadrins historiques de la Bible, first published in 1553. The coats of arms represented are similar to those of the Séguier family, but several elements represented here could suggest the Chabriant de Cornac family. The first tazza, inscribed with Exodus XVI, depicts the Fall of Manna. The decoration inside the lid includes acanthus leaves, arabesques inspired by Jacques Androuet du Cerceau (1510–1584), and four framed scenes drawing on mythological subjects. The interior of the cup depicts Moses and his father-in-law Jethro in a scene from Exodus. Two different scenes are illustrated on the foot: the procession of Amphitrite and Neptune after their union and an episode from Exodus in which Moses strikes a rock that miraculously begins to spout water. The second tazza is similarly decorated. In place of the first tazza's four mythological scenes are four framed winged putti. The exterior of the lid illustrates a scene identified as II Rois XVIII (2 Samuel 18:9–14), the story of Absalom. The interior of the cup—which includes the words III Rois X (1 Kings 10)—depicts the Queen of Sheba in Jerusalem.
