Dish with creation of Eve 17th century

This dish, depicting the creation of Eve, was made by Bernard Palissy, a 16th-century French potter, using glazed earthenware. Palissy wasn't just a craftsman; he was a self-taught scientist, experimenting endlessly to achieve his vibrant colors and detailed relief work. The dish's material— humble clay—is transformed through immense skill and labor. Palissy painstakingly built up the design, layer by layer, before applying his colorful glazes. This wasn't just decoration; it was a form of knowledge production. Palissy's techniques were complex and often perilous, involving high-temperature firings that could easily ruin his work. His pieces were highly prized, not only for their aesthetic appeal, but also as testaments to his technical mastery. Palissy elevated ceramics from a functional craft to a form of high art, reflecting the Renaissance era's fascination with both the natural world and human ingenuity. He challenges us to reconsider what we value and how we define artistic achievement.