Dish

Physical description

Circular, rim decorated with eight embossed panels with chased masks and strapwork alternating with medallions with heads copied from Roman coins. Boss set with a medallion charged with a coat-of-arms (probably once enamelled).

Place of Origin

Toledo, Spain (made)

Date

ca. 1550 (made)

Artist/maker

Franci, Juan (maker)

Materials and Techniques

Silver-gilt, enamel, chased and embossed

Marks and inscriptions

Crest: triple turreted tower
Under dish: maker's mark IV-N (rest illegible) for Juan Franci of Toledo

Dimensions

Diameter: 28.00 cm, Height: 2.50 cm

Object history note

Acquisition RF: 55/4478A
Dr WL Hildburgh FSA Bequest

A hole has been pierced through the medallion shattering the enamelled tinctures. The arms are a triple-turreted tower within a bordure componee argent and gules. These might be the arms of Davolos or of Nuevalos.
Possibly a ewer originally sat over the central roundel. The hole in the middle suggests a later roundel was added which is now lost (the enamel is abraded).

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver 1400-1665, Charles Oman, Pg.63, pl.80, HMSO, 1968

Labels and date

Silver Gallery:
Along the rim are eight medallions with portrait heads showing the God Mars and Roman Emperors and Empresses. Agrippina, Claudius I, Titus, Sabina, Livia, Augustus and Faustina the Younger. The hole perforating the central medallion, with the once enamelled crest of the Davalos or Nuevalos family, suggests that a later family personalised the centre with their coat of arms which has since been removed. [26/11/2002]

Subjects depicted

Mars; Augustus; Titus; Faustina (the younger); Claudius; Livia; Agrippina the Younger; Sabina

Categories

Metalwork

Collection code

MET