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Flagon

29/05/1640-28/05/1641
Artist/Maker
Richard Wallell (maker)
Place of origin
London

A silver-gilt flagon for consecrated communion wine engraved with the coat of arms of the Stationers' Company recording a bequest by William Aspley.
Lent by the Rector and Churchwardens of St Mary-le-Bow and United Parishes (from St Augustine and St Faith's, Old Change)


Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Religion
Christianity
Object type
Flagon
Materials and techniques
Silver-gilt; raised, cast and engraved
Silver
Gold
Raising
Engraving (Incising)
Brief description
Flagon, gilded silver, English (London), 1640-1, maker's mark of Richard Wallell.
Physical description
Silver-gilt flagon of cylindrical form and C-shaped handle, standing on a spreading foot. Central engraving of the sacred monogram within a rayed surround, stamped with a complete set of London hallmarks, and bears the coat of arms of the Stationers' Company engraved on the base, and an inscription recording its bequest by William Aspley. Made in London, 1641.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36.8cm
  • Diameter: 20.1cm (of base)
  • Weight: 2,277g
Marks and inscriptions
  • Sacred monogram 'IHS' engraved on centre of cylindrical flagon, within a rayed surround
    Translation
    'IHS' a monogram for the name Jesus, denotes 'Iesus Hominum Salvator', or 'Jesus, Saviour of Men'
  • Rim of flagon stamped with four marks, from left to right, the maker's mark, probably for Richard Wallell (initials RW, mullet above, in hexagonal shield); leopard's head crowned, for the London assay office; lion passant, the sterling mark; the date letter for the London assay year 1640-41. The four marks are stamped again on the flagon lid.
  • The underside of the base of the flagon engraved with the arms of the London Stationers' Company. Encircling the arms, the following inscription, in Latin [abbreviations expanded in square brackets]: '+ Ecclesiæ Parochiali Stæ [Sanctæ] Fidis donauit Guilelm[us] Aspley Stationari[us] præter 5e Libras paup[er]ib[us] Legatas qui obiit 18 De[cembro]: 1640.'
    Translation
    'William Aspley Stationer, who died [on the] 18 December 1640, gave [this flagon] to the Parish Church of St Faith's, in addition to five pounds bequeathed to the poor.'
  • Engraved on the underside of the rim: Oz dwt 73. 1
    Translation
    The weight of the flagon, ie. 73 Troy ounces and 1 pennyweight.
Gallery label
FLAGON Silver-gilt LONDON Hallmark for 1640-41. Maker's mark: RW below a mullet within a hexagon. A large but conventional flagon of the late Charles I period, conceivably made 'white', i.e., ungilt, and certainly gilded later after the engraving of the sacred monogram within rays on the body, about 1810. The foot is engraved with the arms of the Stationers' Company and inscription recording its bequest by William Aspley. Lent by the Rector and Churchwardens of St Mary-le-Bow and United Parishes (from St Augustine and St Faith's, Old Change)(1980)
Credit line
Lent by the Rector and Churchwardens of St Mary-le-Bow and United Parishes (from St Augustine and St Faith's, Old Change)
Object history
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
A silver-gilt flagon for consecrated communion wine engraved with the coat of arms of the Stationers' Company recording a bequest by William Aspley.
Lent by the Rector and Churchwardens of St Mary-le-Bow and United Parishes (from St Augustine and St Faith's, Old Change)
Bibliographic references
  • Freshfield, Edwin. The Communion Plate of the Parish Churches in the County of London. London and Middlesex Archaeology Group [printed by Rixon & Arnold], 1894, p. 17.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Metalwork Handlist of the Church Plate Study Collections and the Collection of Monumental Brasses in Rooms 83 and 84 Part I Room 84 Church Plate of the British Isles and English Monumental Brasses p.17
  • Mitchell, David, Silversmiths in Elizabethan and Stuart London (London, 2017), pp. 482-83.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
LOAN:ST AUGUSTINE.7

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O378763/flagon-richard-wallell/
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