Ewer thumbnail 1
Ewer thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 10a, The Françoise and Georges Selz Gallery

Ewer

1468-1491 (made)
Artist/Maker
Van Steynemoelen, Seger (maker)
Place of origin
Malines (made)

This ewer is made of silver mounts, incorporating an ancient, probably Roman, porphyry vase, and bears the mark of a known Malines goldsmith, Seger van Steynemolen. It was probably made between 1468-91 at a time when Mechelen (Malines) was the favourite residence of Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy. She was the sister of king Edward IV of England and the wealthy widow of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy,who had been one of the most powerful princes in Europe. The roses decorating the lid may represent the Yorkist rose badge. Such a precious piece was probably intended for display rather than use at the table.


Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Silver
Object type
Ewer
Materials and techniques
Green porphyry with silver-gilt mounts
Silver
Silver-Gilt
Porphyry
Brief description
Silver, Flemish, green porphyry, mounted in silver-gilt, the handle and spout dragon shaped.
Physical description
Green porphyry ewer with gilded silver base, spout, handle and lid. The spouth is in the form of a gaping dragon.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.2cm
  • Width: 8.2cm
  • Depth: 12.8cm
  • Weight: 0.64kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Marks and inscriptions
  • Hallmark of Mechelen
  • Makers mark of Seger van Steynemoelen
Gallery label
CRUET FOR THE MASS Porphyry, mounted in silver-gilt Maker's mark of Seger von Steynemolen (d.1508) Flemish; Malines mark up to 1489 From the collection of Duchesse de Berri Formerly in the French royal collection
Object history
Louvre Exhibition RF.2000/630
Stedelijke Exhibition RF.2004/938
Charles the Bold Exhibition RF.2006/635

From the French Royal Collection (Inventory 1791, no. 509)
Production
The mounts must have been made before 1491 when a different hallmark was introduced. The porphyry vase dates from between the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D.
Subject depicted
Dragons
Association
Margaret (Of York)
Summary
This ewer is made of silver mounts, incorporating an ancient, probably Roman, porphyry vase, and bears the mark of a known Malines goldsmith, Seger van Steynemolen. It was probably made between 1468-91 at a time when Mechelen (Malines) was the favourite residence of Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy. She was the sister of king Edward IV of England and the wealthy widow of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy,who had been one of the most powerful princes in Europe. The roses decorating the lid may represent the Yorkist rose badge. Such a precious piece was probably intended for display rather than use at the table.
Bibliographic references
  • Campbell, Marian. [Catalogue entry]. In: Charles Le Téméraire (1433-1477): Faste et Déclin de la cour de Bourgogne. Brussels: Fonds Mercator, 2008. p.287, no.108, ill. Catalogue of the exhibition held Musée Historique de Berne, 25 April - 24 August 2008 and at Bruggemuseum & Groeningemuseum Bruges, 27 March - 21 July 2009.
  • Les Gemmes de la Couronne. Paris: Daniel Alcouffe 2001, pp. 56-7, cat. no. 9. Catalogue of exhibition held Paris Louvre 2001.
  • Women of Distinction. Margaret of York - Margaret of Austria. Turnhout: 2005, p. 73, cat. no. 7. Catalogue of exhibition held Malines 2005.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
627-1868

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Record createdApril 27, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O111550/ewer-van-steynemoelen-seger/
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