Silver, Continental (Soulages Collection)

Circular serpentine dish in 7 vertical silver-gilt straps on circular base, with protruding rounded serpentine handle mounted in silver-gilt, rim of bowl and handle engraved with scrolls, leaves and flowers, enamelled arms on handle.

Purchase - (£20) Soulages Collection

Art of the Rockface Exhibition RF.2004/887

Registered desscription had attached note describing the coat of arms: On mount of handle “Quarterly 1 and 4 Gules a cross silver (Order of St. John of Jerusalem) 2 and 3 Gold and fess Gules”
“This was the usual way of depicting the arms of the Grand Masters from the late 15th-century but was also used for the high offices of the German priories. The arms were attributed to Bertrand de Thessy, Master at Acre (1228-30) and were borne by Antoine Fluvian de la Riviere, Grand Master at Rhodes (1421-37). With the field silver they were attributed to Master Nicholas de Lorgne (1277-85)”

Gallery label of 2000: “The date, 1521, in the engraved border, appears to have been added later and the unidentified coat of arms has been superimposed on an earlier crest, presumably when the bowl changed ownership. The mounts on vessels could readily be replaced if they were damaged”.

The serpentine bowl probably Medieval, the mounts around 1520-1530; Maker unidentified

This serpentine bowl was probably intended for display rather than for use. The enamelled coat of arms on the silver-gilt handle is probably that of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem but appears to be superimposed on another shield, presumably when the bowl changed ownership. The silver-gilt mount around the bowl seems to incorporate the date 1521 but the stone vessel is probably much earlier. The original mounts were possibly replaced in the 16th century to bring the object up-to-date or to repair damage.

650-1865