A RARE ITALIAN MAIOLICA ALBARELLO ATTRIBUTED TO NAPLES, circa 1480-1500, of waisted cylindrical form, painted with continuous interwoven geometric band with blue shading against on an ochre ground, flanked by formal blue and white borders of repeating ornament, the shoulder with a border of blue dashes, 20.1cm high (minor crack and minor chips, some minor flaking to surface with associated re-touching)Literature: An albarello with very similar geometric decoration and an identical colour scheme was sold by Christie's Milan, 15 May 2006, lot 166, suggesting a Naples origin. However, geometric decoration such as this is found on maiolica attributed to a number of centres. The albarello in the present lot was originally catalogued as Tuscan when sold by Sotheby's in 1985. It is considered to be a favourite type of decoration on maiolica produced in Tuscany, particularly at Montelupo, and was introduced about 1480 (see Timothy Wilson, 'Maiolica: Italian Renaissance Ceramics in the Metropolitan Museum of Art' (2016), p.85). This albarello was subsequently attributed to Pesaro when offered by Christie's, 22 April 2012, lot 4; Pesaro fragments similarly decorated with geometric ribbons are illustrated by Andrea Ciaroni, Maioliche del Quattrocento a Pesaro (2004), p.171, cats. 3-5. For a Tuscan albarello with similar geometric ornament and radiating bands at the shoulder, see that sold by Christie's, 13 March 1989, lot 262.