This refined, figural rendering was probably executed by Nicola da Urbino, who introduced the decorative style of using the entire surface of a form to convey a narrative scene (istoriato). Maiolica designs such as this one depicting Abraham and Isaac, often derived from contemporary print sources. After a colorful design had been fired, the dish was usually sent to Gubbio, a town famous for its luster work, where iridescent highlights would be applied.