With a message from Zues that he was to award the golden apple to Aphrodite who offered to assist him in gaining the love of Helen, wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta, whose beauty was equal to her.






The back of the dish bears the arms of Cardinal Tiberio Crispi and the inscription SORDENT PRAE FORM ENIVM VIRTVS REGNA AVRV. Genius, valour, wealth is beauty.

Large decorative dishes, known as piatti da pompa, were a specialty of sixteth century Dertua potters. They are about 40cm wide and have a distinctive profile with a slightly raised edge, broad rim,






and curved well with a footing, which is usually pierced by two holes to take a cord for suspension. Curiously these are often incorrectly placed for suspention the right way up.

This basin is one on the most brilliant and enigmatic pieces in the Fitzwilliam's collection and has fascinated maiolica scholars since it was exhibited by Baron Lionel de Rothchild at the Special Exhibition









Fitzwilliam, it was attributed to Faenza or Siena, but since then it has usually been assigned to Cafaggiolo, although it does not bear the SP monogram mark which occurs on many dishes and jugs.