Flagon
1610-1611 (hallmarked)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This pouring vessel, one of a pair, was given by Daniel Hollingworth to St Augustine's church in the City of London in 1631.The English Reformation allowed lay people to take communion wine and thus created a need for vessels to hold the wine. This was often met by gifts of domestic plate that was no longer in fashion.
This object would once have been part of the buffet. The buffet of plate was an important feature of medieval and Renaissance banquets. Often made of oak or walnut, buffets usually stood at the side of a dining room, their shelves filled with tablewares. Gold and silver vessels were displayed to convey a sense of the owner's wealth. Normally these vessels were used for the service of food and drink, but on great state occasions they would be set out purely for display.
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 object would once have been part of the buffet. The buffet of plate was an important feature of medieval and Renaissance banquets. Often made of oak or walnut, buffets usually stood at the side of a dining room, their shelves filled with tablewares. Gold and silver vessels were displayed to convey a sense of the owner's wealth. Normally these vessels were used for the service of food and drink, but on great state occasions they would be set out purely for display.
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
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt, raised, engraved, flat-chased, punched, stamped, embossed, matted |
| Brief description | Silver-gilt, London hallmarks for 1610-11, mark of John Middleton |
| Physical description | Silver-gilt flagon of slightly tapering cylindrical form standing on a spreading foot stamped with a band of fluting and foliage, with a short, tapering section above and a moulded band applied to the base of the body. On the underside of the base is engraved "Austins Parish Church". The body has a moulded lip and is flat-chased with a band of strapwork and foliage on a ground of punched circles. In the centre of the band is an escutcheon with an inscription above. The domed cover is stamped with decoration similar to that of the foot and embossed with a band of lion masks, strapwork and fruit on matted ground, with a similar escutcheon in the centre. The S-scrolled handle is engraved with foliage arabesques; it has a hatched, triangular lower terminal and a bar-and-scroll thumbpiece. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | (Gallery 70, case 2)
1, 5. Pair of flagons
1610–11
In 1631, Daniel Hollingworth gave this pair of pouring vessels to St Augustine’s Church in the City of London. After the English Reformation, all members of the congregation were encouraged to take communion wine, thus creating a need for larger vessels. This was often met by gifts of earlier domestic flagons that were no longer in fashion.
London, England; probably John Middleton I (active 1580–1618)
Gilded silver
Museum nos. Loan:Gilbert.529 to 530-2008(16/11/2016) |
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Daniel Hollingworth. St. Augustine's Church, Watling Street, London. St. Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside, London, sale, Christie's, lot 405, July 11 1984. Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1984. St Faith under St Paul's in Castle Baynard Ward was an unusual parish within the City of London. It had been physically removed in 1256 to allow for the eastern expansion of the Old St Paul's Cathedral.St Augustine, Watling Street was an Anglican church which stood just to the east of St Paul's. The church stood on the north side of Watling Street, at the corner with Old Change. After the fire the parish was united with that of St Faith's, whose congregation had previously worshipped in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral. St Augustine with St Faith, Old Change. This church is situated behind number 35, St. Paul's churchyard, and at the corner of Watling Street. |
| Summary | This pouring vessel, one of a pair, was given by Daniel Hollingworth to St Augustine's church in the City of London in 1631.The English Reformation allowed lay people to take communion wine and thus created a need for vessels to hold the wine. This was often met by gifts of domestic plate that was no longer in fashion. This object would once have been part of the buffet. The buffet of plate was an important feature of medieval and Renaissance banquets. Often made of oak or walnut, buffets usually stood at the side of a dining room, their shelves filled with tablewares. Gold and silver vessels were displayed to convey a sense of the owner's wealth. Normally these vessels were used for the service of food and drink, but on great state occasions they would be set out purely for display. 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. |
| Associated object | LOAN:GILBERT.530-2008 (Object) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.529-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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