Decorative vase, Italian from Deruta, late C16 or early C17 polychrome maolica, showing heads of Filumena and Ruccieri.

Painted on the earthenware jar are the figures of St Philomena (on the right) and another figure called Ruccieri (on the left). St Philomena (or Filumena) was a virgin martyr whose cult was popular, especially for healing, in the 1800s after the supposed discovery of her bones. The apparent discovery of her body was later discredited and her feast day was removed from the Christian calendar in 1960. Nothing is known about Ruccieri.

The vases, with their snake-like handles, are 330 mm high and 210 mm wide. (A158048 and A158049 shown together).