Dish
ca. 1540 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This striking Portuguese dish would have been made for display on a sideboard and is embossed with decorative motifs inspired by classical ornament. The design, with the trophies of arms, the masks on the shields and the helmets formed as grotesque animals' heads, is an early example of the Mannerist style, an exaggerated, fantastical taste which was popular in Europe in the second half of the 16th century.
Lisbon was an important medieval centre of goldsmiths' work until Spain and Portugal were united under Spanish rule in 1580.
Lisbon was an important medieval centre of goldsmiths' work until Spain and Portugal were united under Spanish rule in 1580.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt |
| Brief description | Dish, circular decorated with stems bearing flowers and fruit, trophies on rim, borders of laurel, cherub-heads, and central medallion with female bust, Lisbon, ca. 1540 |
| Physical description | Circular with low foot and raised centre. Decoration: broad band of stems bearing flowers and fruit, intersphered with trophies on rim; borders of laurel, cherub-heads, enriched with moulding surrounding medallion with female bust on raised centre. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Traditionally associated with Elihu Yale. Symbolism: pomegranate associated with Aragon, thistle with Lisbon. Purchase - (£100) Madryn Castle collection. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This striking Portuguese dish would have been made for display on a sideboard and is embossed with decorative motifs inspired by classical ornament. The design, with the trophies of arms, the masks on the shields and the helmets formed as grotesque animals' heads, is an early example of the Mannerist style, an exaggerated, fantastical taste which was popular in Europe in the second half of the 16th century. Lisbon was an important medieval centre of goldsmiths' work until Spain and Portugal were united under Spanish rule in 1580. |
| Bibliographic reference | The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver 1400-1665, Charles Oman, Pg.86, pl.108, HMSO, 1968; Article: “Some Old Portuguese and Other Foreign Silver at Madryn Castle, North Wales”, E Alfred Jones, Conoisseur, XXVII, 1910, p.164-5 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.517-1910 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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