Nef
ca.1610 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Models of nefs in gold and silver were a French tradition and intended for various purposes. While the earliest records, from the 13th century, show that they were associated with religious use and offerings to shrines, they were also used in secular contexts, being placed next to the prince at the table to hold his napkin and eating implements, especially in the 17th century. In 16th and 17th century Germanic culture, nef-shaped cups were an important feature of the goldsmiths' workshop and were used for popular Trinkspiele (drinking games), as part of the host's theatrical table entertainment. The upper section of this nef lifts off the hull to reveal a lizard in the bowl.
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 | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Raised, cast, chased silver and gilded silver (silver-gilt) with cold-enamel |
| Brief description | Silver, parcel-gilt and cold enamel, Regensburg, ca.1610, mark: AP. |
| Physical description | The nef is modelled in the form of a two-masted ship with cold-enamelled figures and cannon on deck and other figures climbing the rigging and mainmast. On the poop deck is a group of figures dining at a table inside the tiled roofed cabin, on which sits a monkey. The oval base is chased with gardoons and naturalistic foliage with three applied lizards, and the stem is formed as a tree trunk with an engraved foliage calyx at the top. The repoussé hull of the ship is chased with cartouches of sea monsters and with scrolls and fruit on a matted ground. The spout of the nef issues from an applied mask at the bow. Another lizard is applied to the interior of the hull. The mizzenmast has two furled sails, the mainsail is engraved with a later coat of arms, and a flag is flying from the top of the mainmast. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Mark:AP (UNidentified maker's mark) |
| 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 | "The Gilbert nef is an unusually fine example of the form for its comparatively late date. Although considerably smaller than the Schlusselfelder Nef [Nuremberg, 1502-3; Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg, inv. no.HG2146; ...] it is in the same tradition in its basic form and function. Both are constructed with numerous figures on deck [...] More significantly, both may ostensibly function as a ewer or drinking vessel when the superstructure has been removed.[...] In the case of the Gilbert nef, the spout or siphon projecting from the figurehead is so constructed that its point of intake is located at the deepest part of the bowl, thus allowing the vessel to be drunk from without lifting or tipping it. The lizards around the foot and inside the bowl are reminiscent of the technique of casting animals and foliage from life developed by Wenzel Jamnitzer and also used during the late sixteenth century by Nuremberg makers such as Jacob Frohlich." (Schroder, 1988) Provenance: Sale, Sotheby's, Geneva, lot 157, November 12, 1985. Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1985. |
| Historical context | The word 'nef', meaning ship is taken from the old French and refers to a particular type of object that evolved in France during the Middle Ages. |
| Production | Maker's mark AP |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Models of nefs in gold and silver were a French tradition and intended for various purposes. While the earliest records, from the 13th century, show that they were associated with religious use and offerings to shrines, they were also used in secular contexts, being placed next to the prince at the table to hold his napkin and eating implements, especially in the 17th century. In 16th and 17th century Germanic culture, nef-shaped cups were an important feature of the goldsmiths' workshop and were used for popular Trinkspiele (drinking games), as part of the host's theatrical table entertainment. The upper section of this nef lifts off the hull to reveal a lizard in the bowl. 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 references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.67:1, 2-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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