Dish
1681-1682 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The salver is part of a large set of altar plate that Elinor James, the widow of a London printer, gave to St Benet Paul’s Wharf in 1711. After her death in 1719, the set was transferred to the church of St Mary-le-Strand.
The dish is hallmarked for 1681–2 and engraved ‘ITE’. These initials, along with the fashionable chinoiserie decoration, suggest that it was present for Thomas and Elinor James in 1681 and meant for domestic use.
Further inscriptions record its later use in church: ‘E.I. to E.B.1711’ and ‘This is Dedicated to ye God of Charity by which man is in hopes to attain Eternal salvation. O blessed is the man that is Endowed with that Heavenly gift. I rest Elinor James’.
The long inscription reflects the obsessive piety of the donor. Elinor James was a champion of the Church of England. Described by a contemporary as a ‘mixture of benevolence and madness’, she was intolerant of Roman Catholics and dissenters alike. In 1689 she was committed to Newgate Prison for libel on account of her book The Vindication of the Church of England.
Other items in the set consisted of two flagons, a cup, a paten and a crimson velvet altar cloth. Presumably, the dish would have been used to serve the communion bread.
The dish is hallmarked for 1681–2 and engraved ‘ITE’. These initials, along with the fashionable chinoiserie decoration, suggest that it was present for Thomas and Elinor James in 1681 and meant for domestic use.
Further inscriptions record its later use in church: ‘E.I. to E.B.1711’ and ‘This is Dedicated to ye God of Charity by which man is in hopes to attain Eternal salvation. O blessed is the man that is Endowed with that Heavenly gift. I rest Elinor James’.
The long inscription reflects the obsessive piety of the donor. Elinor James was a champion of the Church of England. Described by a contemporary as a ‘mixture of benevolence and madness’, she was intolerant of Roman Catholics and dissenters alike. In 1689 she was committed to Newgate Prison for libel on account of her book The Vindication of the Church of England.
Other items in the set consisted of two flagons, a cup, a paten and a crimson velvet altar cloth. Presumably, the dish would have been used to serve the communion bread.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, engraved |
| Brief description | A silver-gilt secular dish, 1681, given by Elinor James for ecclesiastical use in 1711 |
| Physical description | Dish |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Maker's mark SH and 'E.I. to E.B.1711' and 'ITE'.'This is Dedicated to ye God of Charity by which man is in hopes to attain Eternall salvation. O blessed is the man that is Endowed with that Heavenly gift. I rest Elinor James'. (The initials ITE stand for Thomas and Elinor James.) |
| Gallery label | Salver
The salver is part of a large set of altar plate that Elinor James, the widow of a London printer, gave to St Benet Paul’s Wharf in 1711. After her death in 1719, the set was transferred to the church of St Mary-le-Strand.
The dish is hallmarked for 1681–2 and engraved ‘ITE’. These initials, along with the fashionable chinoiserie decoration, suggest that it was present for Thomas and Elinor James in 1681 and meant for domestic use.
Further inscriptions record its later use in church: ‘E.I. to E.B.1711’ and ‘This is Dedicated to ye God of Charity by which man is in hopes to attain Eternal salvation. O blessed is the man that is Endowed with that Heavenly gift. I rest Elinor James’.
The long inscription reflects the obsessive piety of the donor. Elinor James was a champion of the Church of England. Described by a contemporary as a ‘mixture of benevolence and madness’, she was intolerant of Roman Catholics and dissenters alike. In 1689 she was committed to Newgate Prison for libel on account of her book The Vindication of the Church of England.
Other items in the set consisted of two flagons, a cup, a paten and a crimson velvet altar cloth. Presumably, the dish would have been used to serve the communion bread.
London, England, 1681–2; maker’s mark ‘SH’
Silver gilt
Lent by Rector and Churchwardens of St Mary-le-
Strand with St Clement Danes(22/05/2005) |
| Credit line | Lent by the Rector and Churchwardens of St. Mary-le-Strand with St. Clement Danes |
| Object history | Given by Elinor James to S. Benet Paul's Wharf and transferred to St. Mary le Strand after her death. Historical significance: Gifts of Elinor James This plate comes from a larger set given by Elinor James in 1711. She was the widow of a London printer. Described by a contemporary as a ‘mixture of benevolence and madness’, she was an eccentric champion of the Church of England, intolerant of Roman Catholics and dissenters alike. In 1689 Elinor was committed to Newgate Prison for libel on account of her book The Vindication of the Church of England. The exceptionally long inscriptions on these objects reflect her obsessive piety. |
| Historical context | 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. Given by Elinor James at the same time as a set of silver-gilt altar plate consisting of two flagons, and a cup and paten with a crimson velvet altar cloth embroidered in silver with the sacred monogram 'IHS'. |
| Summary | The salver is part of a large set of altar plate that Elinor James, the widow of a London printer, gave to St Benet Paul’s Wharf in 1711. After her death in 1719, the set was transferred to the church of St Mary-le-Strand. The dish is hallmarked for 1681–2 and engraved ‘ITE’. These initials, along with the fashionable chinoiserie decoration, suggest that it was present for Thomas and Elinor James in 1681 and meant for domestic use. Further inscriptions record its later use in church: ‘E.I. to E.B.1711’ and ‘This is Dedicated to ye God of Charity by which man is in hopes to attain Eternal salvation. O blessed is the man that is Endowed with that Heavenly gift. I rest Elinor James’. The long inscription reflects the obsessive piety of the donor. Elinor James was a champion of the Church of England. Described by a contemporary as a ‘mixture of benevolence and madness’, she was intolerant of Roman Catholics and dissenters alike. In 1689 she was committed to Newgate Prison for libel on account of her book The Vindication of the Church of England. Other items in the set consisted of two flagons, a cup, a paten and a crimson velvet altar cloth. Presumably, the dish would have been used to serve the communion bread. |
| Bibliographic reference | Freshfield, Edwin. The Communion Plate of the Parish Churches in the County of London. London: Rixon and Arnold, 1895. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:ST MARY STRAND.8 |
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| Record created | February 1, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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