Attributed to Pierre Reymond (1513-1584) French, Limoges, dated 1558

inscribed with a Bible verse, Ecclesiastes 10:8, in Latin, QVI DIRVIT SEPM MORDEBIT EUM COLUBR ECCLESIAST. X (He who breaks through a hedge will be bitten by a snake). There is a fragmentary 19th century French label on the underside of the foot inscribed in ink ".]e de M^r de [Castel?]nau" followed by in indication of price "...2 sous."

The Estate of Mrs. Sidney Trowbridge Miller II, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Thence by descent

Some chips and losses throughout, some remains of restoration, including loss to inner border at 1 o'clock and 10 o'clok. Two losses in center (head and tree). Otherwise chipping around white edge. Some losses to enamel on reverse at 2, 10, and 11 o'clock. Foot with some chips to edge and to where it has been reattached to bowl. Fill on interior of foot, now covered with painted enamel disc. Some refreshed gilding.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

RELATED LITERATURE
Susan L. Caroselli, The Painted Enamels of Limoges: a catalogue of the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 1993

This tazza bears an unidentified coat of arms on the foot featuring two crosses pattée and two groups of three acorns, and was likely part of a commission for a larger group of tableware which was a specialty of Pierre Reymond. The same armorial device appears on two tazze, also by Reymond, illustrating verses from the Book of Proverbs in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (op. cit. cat. nos. 9 and 10, pp. 92-97), and on a third tazze by the same hand illustrating Ecclesiastes 10:2 (see 'Als ic can', Masterpieces from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Bernard Descheemaeker Works of Art, Antwerp, no. 5, January 2010, cat. no. 17, pp. 46 and 47). A dish by Reymond cited by Descheemaker as sold by the Crédit Muncipal de Paris, June 25, 1998, lot 197, also bears this device.