Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 69, The Whiteley Galleries

Basin

ca. 1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This basin and its accompanying ewer (M.50-1980) would have been made for display rather than for use at the dining table or dressing table. The great flaring lip of the ewer, the large scallop shell supporting the handle and the profusion of 'rocaille' (ornament inspired by rocks, stones and water), acanthus leaves and C-shaped scrolls decorating the surface of both pieces make this set a particularly elegant example of the Rococo style.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver, embossed and chased
Brief description
Basin, silver, oval with outer border embossed and chased with rocaille and acanthus leaves against matted ground, Joao Coelho Sampaio, Oporto, ca. 1760
Physical description
Oval dish has shaped rim and is decorated with embossing and chasing. Outer border embossed and chased with rocaille and acanthus leaves against matted ground. Inner border chased with parallel motifs, also against matted ground. Centre of dish is plain.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.00cm
  • Length: 55.50cm
  • Width: 41.50cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'P' in circle surrounded by dots (Underneath basin, town mark for Porto (now Oporto, Portugal))
  • 'ICS' (Maker’s mark in monogram for Joao Coelho Sampaio (1719-84).)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mr D. F. C. Dyson
Object history
Acquisition RF: 80 / 1470
Summary
This basin and its accompanying ewer (M.50-1980) would have been made for display rather than for use at the dining table or dressing table. The great flaring lip of the ewer, the large scallop shell supporting the handle and the profusion of 'rocaille' (ornament inspired by rocks, stones and water), acanthus leaves and C-shaped scrolls decorating the surface of both pieces make this set a particularly elegant example of the Rococo style.
Associated object
M.50-1980 (Object)
Collection
Accession number
M.50A-1980

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 9, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest