The Mermaid Ewer and Basin
Ewer and Basin
1610-1611 (hallmarked)
1610-1611 (hallmarked)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
A ewer and basin were used for the washing of hands during and after a meal. Rosewater or other sweet-scented warm water was most commonly used for this purpose. From the 13th century, throughout Europe, a marine theme was considered most appropriate for the decoration of a ewer and basin. Mermaids were particularly fashionable.
History & Use
Ewers and basins played an important role in the ceremonial life of the court and were frequently exchanged as ambassadorial or New Year gifts. Sets were usually the grandest items on display on the buffet, or sideboard table. They were made in gold, silver-gilt or plain silver. The great amount of precious metal meant that the acquisition of a ewer and basin represented a considerable financial expenditure and thus emphasised the status of the owner.
Subject & Style
This set is typical of the Mannerist style so fashionable at the Jacobean court. The style had originated in the mid 16th century in the courts of mainland Europe. It was characterised by highly sophisticated, fantastical even contorted forms executed in the most precious materials. Other ewers of the period take the form of ships, snails and griffins.
A ewer and basin were used for the washing of hands during and after a meal. Rosewater or other sweet-scented warm water was most commonly used for this purpose. From the 13th century, throughout Europe, a marine theme was considered most appropriate for the decoration of a ewer and basin. Mermaids were particularly fashionable.
History & Use
Ewers and basins played an important role in the ceremonial life of the court and were frequently exchanged as ambassadorial or New Year gifts. Sets were usually the grandest items on display on the buffet, or sideboard table. They were made in gold, silver-gilt or plain silver. The great amount of precious metal meant that the acquisition of a ewer and basin represented a considerable financial expenditure and thus emphasised the status of the owner.
Subject & Style
This set is typical of the Mannerist style so fashionable at the Jacobean court. The style had originated in the mid 16th century in the courts of mainland Europe. It was characterised by highly sophisticated, fantastical even contorted forms executed in the most precious materials. Other ewers of the period take the form of ships, snails and griffins.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Title | The Mermaid Ewer and Basin (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, embossed and engraved |
| Brief description | Silver ewer and basin, English, 1610-1611 |
| Marks and inscriptions | Full hallmarks struck on the foot of the ewer and the rim of the basin:
maker's mark 'TB' in monogramme in a shield; leopard's head crowned for London assay office; lion passant for sterling standard silver; date-letter 'n' for assay year 1610-11.
On underside of foot of ewer: maker's mark 'TB' in monogramme in a shield. |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Purchased with assistance from the Goldsmiths’ Company |
| Object history | Possibly made for Sir Thomas Wilson (1560-1629) Hallmarked for London Historical significance: Typically mannerist model, fashionable at the court of James I. The mermaid has a long popularity with European goldsmiths for important tableware. Throughout early modern Europe, marine subjects were popular also for important ewers and basins, because they were perceived as appropriate given the association between form and function. Queen Elizabeth I’s Chief Justice, Sir Edward Coke, had a similar set which were itemized in a 1631 inventory as ‘One silver Basin in the forme of a scallop shell with the Armes of Denmark’ weighing 59 ¾ ounces and ‘One Ewer to the same in forme of a Mermayde with the like armes graven on the Breast’ 39 ¾ ounces. (C.W.James, Chief Justice Coke, 1934, p.316) |
| Summary | Object Type A ewer and basin were used for the washing of hands during and after a meal. Rosewater or other sweet-scented warm water was most commonly used for this purpose. From the 13th century, throughout Europe, a marine theme was considered most appropriate for the decoration of a ewer and basin. Mermaids were particularly fashionable. History & Use Ewers and basins played an important role in the ceremonial life of the court and were frequently exchanged as ambassadorial or New Year gifts. Sets were usually the grandest items on display on the buffet, or sideboard table. They were made in gold, silver-gilt or plain silver. The great amount of precious metal meant that the acquisition of a ewer and basin represented a considerable financial expenditure and thus emphasised the status of the owner. Subject & Style This set is typical of the Mannerist style so fashionable at the Jacobean court. The style had originated in the mid 16th century in the courts of mainland Europe. It was characterised by highly sophisticated, fantastical even contorted forms executed in the most precious materials. Other ewers of the period take the form of ships, snails and griffins. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.10&A-1974 |
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| Record created | June 1, 1998 |
| Record URL |
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