First half of 16th century

Dish showing Adam and Eve and the Tree of Knowledge

This dish was probably made in Nuremberg, Germany, where dish manufacturing was on such a large scale that a coalition of dish makers was organized to oversee quality. Nuremberg artists favored religious subject matter, as seen here with the temptation of Adam and Eve, although some pieces had purely ornamental decoration. Despite being well suited for display, such objects could also be used in conjunction with a pitcher or spouted bowl with a handle (called a laver or lavabo) for handwashing at mealtimes.