Tazza
1619 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A tazza was often used as a support for a wine cup or spice plate. Reflecting the Renaissance revival of interest in antiquity, this bowl on a pedestal is inset with ancient Roman and later coins.
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Schatzkammer is one of the few collections of its kind formed in the late 20th century. The Schatzkammer, or treasury, was a new concept in the 16th century. It referred to a special chamber in which the most precious artefacts of a princely collection were housed. Gold and jewelled objects were mounted alongside exotic natural curiosities, including rock crystal, nautilus shells and ostrich eggs. Together they demonstrated not only the wonders of nature and the technical achievements of the artist, but also the intellect and culture of the patron.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Schatzkammer is one of the few collections of its kind formed in the late 20th century. The Schatzkammer, or treasury, was a new concept in the 16th century. It referred to a special chamber in which the most precious artefacts of a princely collection were housed. Gold and jewelled objects were mounted alongside exotic natural curiosities, including rock crystal, nautilus shells and ostrich eggs. Together they demonstrated not only the wonders of nature and the technical achievements of the artist, but also the intellect and culture of the patron.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold, cast and engraved |
| Brief description | Gold and enamel tazza, Silesia, 1619. |
| Physical description | Gold tazza overall set with gold coins from different periods. It has two flat handles on demi-figure brackets and a short tapered foot. Enamel on the rim. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | The following coins are set into bowl and foot of the tazza: Top Outer circle: 20 Kremnitz (Hungarian) ducats, 16th century 2nd circle: 20 coins of Hungarian, French and Spanish nationality, and an Islamic coin 3rd circle: 10 coins from Hungary, France etc. 4th circle: 8 pieces, including three coins from England, Austria and Spain and five medals from Germany and Hungary Centre: Baptismal medal, Germany, 16th century Foot 1st row: Hungarian (Kremnitz) ducats 2nd ros: Hungarian (Kremnitz) ducats Thumb pieces One aureus of Domitian One solidus of Valentinian (based upon description, Sotheby's, sale 10 June 1974, lot 5, further research pending) |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Arturo Lopez-Willshaw (1900-1962); Sotheby's London. Twenty Five Renaissance Jewels and Works of Art from the collection of the late Arturo Lopez-Willshaw, 10 May 1974, lot 5; Kugel, Paris, 1988 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | A tazza was often used as a support for a wine cup or spice plate. Reflecting the Renaissance revival of interest in antiquity, this bowl on a pedestal is inset with ancient Roman and later coins. The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Schatzkammer is one of the few collections of its kind formed in the late 20th century. The Schatzkammer, or treasury, was a new concept in the 16th century. It referred to a special chamber in which the most precious artefacts of a princely collection were housed. Gold and jewelled objects were mounted alongside exotic natural curiosities, including rock crystal, nautilus shells and ostrich eggs. Together they demonstrated not only the wonders of nature and the technical achievements of the artist, but also the intellect and culture of the patron. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.19-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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