A late 17th Century maiolica albarello, possibly Savona, pencilled in blue and manganese with a detailed bird in a landscape above Syr Malu.Extol, the reverse with the initials A.R. below a calligraphic flourish and dated 1690, height 24cm, A/F Malu is an abbreviation for malus, a fruit-bearing tree, e.g. apricot, quince or peach and the preceding abbreviation is syropo syrup. Such fruit are 'cold in the second degree' and recommended for the heart. The bird, which may be a Malay Fowl, would have been copied from a contemporary print, possibly after Francis Barlow (c.1626-1702). By repute purchased from Sotheby's - 25th February 1972