Physical description
[Cup] The communion beaker opens outwards at the top and has a moulded foot with a plain body
[Stand] The stand is of circular form with a moulded edge with marks on the underside of the rim
Place of Origin
The Hague, Holland (made)
Date
1673 (made)
1711 (made)
Artist/maker
Aelbrecht van Wingaerden, born 1623 - died 1698 (goldsmith)
Jean du Vignon (goldsmith)
Materials and Techniques
Silver, raised and engraved
Marks and inscriptions
[Cup] On the base, the date letter W for 1673, a stork for The Hague, a lion rampant for the Netherlands and the maker's mark AW for Aelbrecht van Wingaerden
Inscribed under the rime John Pria Ministir A V Swanewyk J Vanderheyden Elders H van spreken + J de Baans Diacens; engraved on one side within a shield flanked by conjoined branches of palm 'The Gift of George Carew Esquire to Remaine with the English Church in The Hague for Ever may the 15 1674' and on the other with the arms of Carew of Surrey, Gloucester and Kent 'argent three lions passant in pale sable, armed and langued gules' . Inscribed on the base 'Ex dono Georgy Carew 15 1674 John Pria Minister A v Swaanwyk j van der heyden Elders, H van Spreken + J de Baans Deacons
[Stand] Marks on the underside of the rim, the date letter N for 1711, a stork for The Hague, a lion rampant for the Netherlands and the maker's mark of three stars for Jean de Vignon.
Dimensions
[Cup] Height: 16.9 cm, Diameter: 11.3 cm
[Stand] Diameter: 11 cm
Object history note
Historical significance: Part of a remarkable group of plate from the English Reformed Church in The Hague which was given to the church by individual members of the congregation.
Historical context note
Gifts to the Church
Gifts were the most important source of English church plate in the 17th century. The donor was usually a prominent member of the community, which in country parishes often meant the local landowner. But gifts came from other sources too. Many were given by women, showing their active involvement with the church. Churchwardens also took pride in commissioning new silver and often contributed to the cost. Occasionally, gifts like Lord Hertford’s chalice and flagon were made to win support for a political cause.
Not all of these gifts were new. Old-fashioned domestic plate, often richly decorated with secular ornament, was welcomed and used for the service of communion or the collection of alms.
Church Plate from The Hague
This impressively austere service was given to the English Reformed Church in The Hague between 1673 and 1711 by different members of the congregation. It was made by four different local goldsmiths. The provision of stands for the vessels is most unusual. The church closed in 1822, and the plate was later used in the chapel of the British Embassy in The Hague.
One of a pair of communion beakers and stands, the beakers were given by George Carew to the English Reformed Church at The Hague in 1673.
Descriptive line
The beakers bear the donor's arms and the inscription 'The Gift of George Carew Esquire to Remain with the English Church in the Hague for Ever May the 15th 1674'. The stands were a later addition in 1711 to protect the altar cloth.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
E.A.Jones,'Old Silver Sacramental Vessels of Some English Churches in Holland', The Burlington Magazine, volume 13, April 1908.
Exhibition History
Gifts to the Church (Sacred Silver and Stained Glass Galleries, the Victoria and Albert Museum 22/11/2005-22/11/2005)
Labels and date
Communion Beakers and Stands
This beaker forms part of an impressively austere altar service given to the English Reformed Church in The Hague between 1673 and 1711 by different members of the congregation. Donated in 1674, the beaker bears the donor’s arms and the inscription ‘The Gift of George Carew Esquire to Remain with the English Church in the Hague for Ever May the 15 1674’. It would have been used during Holy Communion, in place of a chalice, to serve the consecrated wine. The stand was a later addition to protect the altar cloth.
The Hague, the Netherlands, 1673;
by Aelbrecht van Wingaerden (1623–98),
the stands 1711, by Jean du Vignon (1683–1746)
Silver
Museum nos. M.9, 10-1995 [22/11/2005]
Materials
Silver
Techniques
Engraving; Raising
Categories
Metalwork; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
MET
