Jug
1582-1583 (made), ca.1580 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The mottled brown glaze on this jug was known in England as ‘tigerware’. Glazed stoneware such as this was imported in large quantities from the German Rhineland in the 16th century and often mounted in precious metal. Inexpensive objects of turned wood and stoneware, and more costly glass vessels were often transformed by adding decorated mounts of silver, pewter and gold. The mounts in this case, possibly by Richard Brooke of London, are decorated with standard embossed fruit and strapwork. They were produced about two or three years after the stoneware.
This piece is an example of 16th century domestic silver. Such silver was both functional and ornamental. Objects for dining and drinking took elegant forms and were decorated in the latest styles. Beautifully crafted items intended only for display often adopted functional forms such as cups and dishes. Domestic silver was not confined to the most wealthy. Many people owned silver spoons or mounted vessels, items which often became treasured possessions.
Sir Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert began collecting in the 1960s and over a period of 40 years formed one of the world’s great private collections of decorative arts. The collection consists of over 800 objects from the fields of European gold and silver, Italian mosaics and hardstone, portrait enamels and gold boxes. Sir Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996 to be housed at Somerset House, London, having previously been displayed at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In 2008 the collection was moved to dedicated galleries in the V&A, where a selection has been on permanent display ever since.
This piece is an example of 16th century domestic silver. Such silver was both functional and ornamental. Objects for dining and drinking took elegant forms and were decorated in the latest styles. Beautifully crafted items intended only for display often adopted functional forms such as cups and dishes. Domestic silver was not confined to the most wealthy. Many people owned silver spoons or mounted vessels, items which often became treasured possessions.
Sir Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert began collecting in the 1960s and over a period of 40 years formed one of the world’s great private collections of decorative arts. The collection consists of over 800 objects from the fields of European gold and silver, Italian mosaics and hardstone, portrait enamels and gold boxes. Sir Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996 to be housed at Somerset House, London, having previously been displayed at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In 2008 the collection was moved to dedicated galleries in the V&A, where a selection has been on permanent display ever since.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt and glazed stoneware |
Brief description | Stoneware jug with silver-gilt mounts; jug: Germany, 16th century; mounts: London, 1582-83, possibly Richard Brooke |
Physical description | A stoneware jug with a bulbous body and a mottled brown glazed surface. The silver-gilt mounts on the lid and broad bands on the lip and foot have repoussé flowers and strapwork decoration. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | (Gallery 70, case 1)
10–14. Mounted wares
Inexpensive objects of turned wood and stoneware, and more costly glass vessels were transformed by the addition of silver, pewter or gold mounts. These metal bands, often decorated in the latest fashion, protected and enhanced the objects.
12. Stoneware jug, about 1580, mounts 1582–83
Germany, with English gilded silver mounts; maker’s mark possibly Richard Brooke
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.586-2008(16/11/2016) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: Purchased from S. J. Shrubsole, 01/05/1989. |
Historical context | The ceramic ware known for its mottled glaze as tigerware was made in large quantities in the German Rhineland. Much was exported to London, where the silver-gilt mounts were applied in about 1582 to create this tankard for beer drinking. |
Production | Stoneware: Germany, 16th century; mounts: Richard Brooke (possibly), London, 1582-83 |
Summary | The mottled brown glaze on this jug was known in England as ‘tigerware’. Glazed stoneware such as this was imported in large quantities from the German Rhineland in the 16th century and often mounted in precious metal. Inexpensive objects of turned wood and stoneware, and more costly glass vessels were often transformed by adding decorated mounts of silver, pewter and gold. The mounts in this case, possibly by Richard Brooke of London, are decorated with standard embossed fruit and strapwork. They were produced about two or three years after the stoneware. This piece is an example of 16th century domestic silver. Such silver was both functional and ornamental. Objects for dining and drinking took elegant forms and were decorated in the latest styles. Beautifully crafted items intended only for display often adopted functional forms such as cups and dishes. Domestic silver was not confined to the most wealthy. Many people owned silver spoons or mounted vessels, items which often became treasured possessions. Sir Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert began collecting in the 1960s and over a period of 40 years formed one of the world’s great private collections of decorative arts. The collection consists of over 800 objects from the fields of European gold and silver, Italian mosaics and hardstone, portrait enamels and gold boxes. Sir Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996 to be housed at Somerset House, London, having previously been displayed at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In 2008 the collection was moved to dedicated galleries in the V&A, where a selection has been on permanent display ever since. |
Bibliographic reference | Chapman, Martin. The Gilbert Collection of Gold and Silver. Recent Acquisitions 2 . Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1991, cat. no. B |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.586-2008 |
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Record created | June 19, 2008 |
Record URL |
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