This dish was probably made in Nuremberg, Germany, where dish manufacturing was on such a large scale that a coalition of dish makers was organized to oversee quality. Nuremberg artists favored religious subject matter, although some pieces had purely ornamental decoration. This dish depicts the biblical figures of Joshua and Caleb, who were two of twelve "spies" Moses sent to survey Canaan as the Israelites approached it on their way from Egypt. They found a land so rich it had grown a bunch of grapes that required two people to carry it, leading Joshua and Caleb to advise the Israelites to take the land.

Although such brass dishes were well suited for display, they could also be used in conjunction with a pitcher or spouted bowl with a handle (called a laver or lavabo) for handwashing at mealtimes.