ca. 1600 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This set of four designs by Adriaen Collaert (c.1560-1618) would have been used to decorate plates or spice bowls. Spice bowls were small dishes (around 30 cm.) used to present sweets at the end of a meal, and were usually made with gold or silver. The centre of each of Collaert’s designs shows a specific mythological figure associated with the sea. In each, a band around the central image shows fantastical scenes of sea monsters, mermen and nudes. Many of the surrounding figures emphasise the identity of the central figures. For example, Arion is surrounded by musicians while the border of the Venus plate shows lovers and young woman admiring herself in a mirror. Around the outer rim of each design is a different geometric design. If these images were ever implemented in the production of a dish, they would have been luxurious and fashionable objects.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | engraving |
Brief description | Design for a plate or cup with Amphitrite or Thetis, from a series of four such designs after Adriaen Collaert. Flemish, ca. 1600. |
Physical description | Square print with black ground on top of which is the design for the plate or cup; the design consists of a thin geometric border, and within it a broad ring decorated with fish, mermen and other sea creatures, and within that, a particular mythological figure, in this case, Amphitrite or Thetis. |
Dimensions |
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Content description | The figure is seated on a large shell wearing only a necklace and with her hair elegantly arranged. In the shell at her feet are a lobster another crustacean - possibly a hermit crab - and several other shells. She holds up a shell which she observes. Behind her are a dolphin and two ships under a a cloudy sky. In the outer ring is a hunting scene with mermen and sea creatures. One merman holds a bident to a large fish, while one behind him blows a horn, and another points a spear at the fish. The third figure rides a horse with fins and a fish-like tail. Surrounding the figures are various other fish, including a ray and a flying fish. Towards the edge of the ring are shells and shallower water, which seems to grow deeper towards the central medallion. This gives the design a sense of depth. A outer band with a repeating shell pattern bands the image. |
Marks and inscriptions | "2 Adrianus Collaeart fecit. Philippus Galle excud." (bottom border) |
Object history | Though the central scenes are from the Old Testament rather than Classical mythology, see the silver spice bowls in the Victoria and Albert collection (M.55C-1946) to get an idea of how the Collaert designs may have been realised. (F. Allitt) |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This set of four designs by Adriaen Collaert (c.1560-1618) would have been used to decorate plates or spice bowls. Spice bowls were small dishes (around 30 cm.) used to present sweets at the end of a meal, and were usually made with gold or silver. The centre of each of Collaert’s designs shows a specific mythological figure associated with the sea. In each, a band around the central image shows fantastical scenes of sea monsters, mermen and nudes. Many of the surrounding figures emphasise the identity of the central figures. For example, Arion is surrounded by musicians while the border of the Venus plate shows lovers and young woman admiring herself in a mirror. Around the outer rim of each design is a different geometric design. If these images were ever implemented in the production of a dish, they would have been luxurious and fashionable objects. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | E.4-1923 |
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Record created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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