A Castelli maiolica istoriato plate, c.1740, possibly painted by Carmine Gentili, with a nymph seated by a grassy bank in a wooded landscape, a basket of flowers nearby, a nymph behind her, the yellow-ground border reserved with putti and flowers and centred by auricular panels, blue band rim, 17.3cm diameterNote: The top of an armorial alzata with related decoration in the Acerbo Collection is illustrated by Franco G. Maria Battistella et al., Maioliche di Castelli nella Collezione Acerbo, Pescara, 2001, p. 58. Overall this plate is in very good condition, with only very small minor faults, detailed below. There is a minute chip (less than 2 mm. x 2 mm.) to the underside of the rim at 8 olock this is extremely minor. There is some slight pitting the glaze at the reverse which dates from the time of manufacture in the 18th century). Flaking to the glaze on the edge of the rim, and a few minute losses to the glaze on the underside near the rim. These are all very minor.