Monstrance thumbnail 1
Monstrance thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 69, The Whiteley Galleries

Monstrance

ca. 1530 (made)
Artist/Maker
Andrees (maker)
Place of origin
Salamanca (City) (made)

Square with a window in each side and a niche containing a statuette (The Cardinal Virtues and a bishop). On top is an hexagonal openwork spire formed of cast openwork scrolls. Stem is hexagonal with a knop of cast openwork scrolls. Shaped base richly embossed with a pattern of foliage and (1) a cherub's head; (2) head of a female figure; (3) head of a male scholar; (4) two birds; (5) a cross fleury; (6) a plant.


Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Christianity
Object type
Monstrance
Materials and techniques
silver, gilded
Silver
Brief description
Spain, Salamanca, about 1540. maker's mark ANDREES; Church plate, Continental
Physical description
Square with a window in each side and a niche containing a statuette (The Cardinal Virtues and a bishop). On top is an hexagonal openwork spire formed of cast openwork scrolls. Stem is hexagonal with a knop of cast openwork scrolls. Shaped base richly embossed with a pattern of foliage and (1) a cherub's head; (2) head of a female figure; (3) head of a male scholar; (4) two birds; (5) a cross fleury; (6) a plant.
Dimensions
  • Base of foot to top of monstrance height: 52cm
  • Across underside of foot diameter: 20cm (Note: Maximum diameter)
  • Weight: 2903g
Marks and inscriptions
  • Marked on the underside of the foot with the town mark of Salamanca (the letters 'SA' above an ox and a bridge, in an rectangular punch) and unidentified maker's mark 'ANN/DREES' in a rectangular punch, the upper line of the name extremely worn. There is a zig-zag assay mark below the maker's mark. The foot rim struck with the mark 'ET' in a rectangle, the Paris import mark for silver, in use between 24 October 1864 and 30 May 1893.
  • The letters 'S B. Me.' engraved beneath the foot.
Gallery label
  • Silver Gallery: On this Spanish monstrance, for displaying the Eucharist during Mass, classical ornament from Renaissance Italy is combined with traditional Gothic foliage. Niches, pilasters, candelabra motifs and corner figures with the Cardinal Virtues (Faith, Hope and Charity) and a Bishop appear like miniature statues from Antiquity.(26/11/2002)
  • MONSTRANCE Silver-gilt Maker's mark: An Drees Spanish (Salamanca mark); about 1540
Object history
The monstrance was formerly in the Charles Ducatel Collection (sold Paris, 21 April, 1890, Lot 81) and in the J.E. Taylor Collection (sold Christie's, 1-4 July, 1912, Lot 241 - accompanied by a photo). It was exhibited at The Burlington Club in 1903.
Bibliographic references
  • Oman, Charles. The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver 1400-1665. London:HMSO, 1968.
  • “Early Silver and Gold in Spain” Lightbown, RW Discovering Antiques
  • Fernández, Alejandro, Rafael Munoa and Jorge Rabasco, Enciclopedia de la plata española y virreinal americana. Madrid: The Authors, 1984. ISBN 8439824130
  • Seguí González, Mónica. La platería en las catedrales de Salamanca (siglos XV-XX). Salamanca, 1986.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
M.351-1912

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Record createdFebruary 9, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O91748/monstrance-andrees/
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