Cruet
ca. 1400 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Cruet, pewter. The body of hexagonal section, with stepped mouldings at base and rim; a recurving spout of polygonal section is soldered to the body, the mouth formed as a dragon's head; the plain handle with a loop and the top and two flanges with a fragment of the hinged lid. Inscribed on two panels on the body with the name of the owner, 'THOMAS HUNTE' and an abbreviation 'HONORIFICABILITUT' of the medieval tongue twister 'HONORIFICABILITUDINITATIBUS'.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pewter, cast and engraved |
| Brief description | Cruet, pewter, of hexagonal form, English, ca. 1400. |
| Physical description | Cruet, pewter. The body of hexagonal section, with stepped mouldings at base and rim; a recurving spout of polygonal section is soldered to the body, the mouth formed as a dragon's head; the plain handle with a loop and the top and two flanges with a fragment of the hinged lid. Inscribed on two panels on the body with the name of the owner, 'THOMAS HUNTE' and an abbreviation 'HONORIFICABILITUT' of the medieval tongue twister 'HONORIFICABILITUDINITATIBUS'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'THOMAS HUNTE' 'HONORIFICABILIUT' (On the body) |
| Credit line | Given by the Countess of Loudoun |
| Object history | This cruet and another bronze ewer were found in 1937 in a well at Ashby de la Zouch Castle during conservation work in well-filling associated with the construction of the Great Tower for Lord Hastings in 1476. The Zouche family are known to have lived in Ashby and Tong in medieval times. |
| Historical context | Until about 1400 churches provided the principal market for pewter. Cruets, usually in pairs, held wine and water for use during the Mass. This cruet was found in a well cavity at Ashby de la Zouche Castle in Leicestershire. It must pre-date the filling of the well during the building of the Great Tower in 1476. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.26-1939 |
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| Record created | January 17, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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