Bottle
1600-1625 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The material covering this bottle is possibly dried leather or a composition of ground up seashells. The enamel plaques are distinctly Spanish, although similar pieces have also been noted in Germany.
This object, which is one of a pair (M.288&B-1956), offers a glimpse of the collecting activities of Walter Leo Hildburgh. The Museum’s early acquisitions of European silver in the 19th century relied heavily on important sales of private collections. During the early 20th century, however, the Museum was able to shape the collections more deliberately by influencing Hildburgh’s prolific collecting. Hildburgh travelled widely on buying expeditions, usually recording when and where he bought something, but not (frustratingly for posterity) from whom. He added more than 500 objects to the collection, either as gifts to the Museum or as part of his bequest.
This object, which is one of a pair (M.288&B-1956), offers a glimpse of the collecting activities of Walter Leo Hildburgh. The Museum’s early acquisitions of European silver in the 19th century relied heavily on important sales of private collections. During the early 20th century, however, the Museum was able to shape the collections more deliberately by influencing Hildburgh’s prolific collecting. Hildburgh travelled widely on buying expeditions, usually recording when and where he bought something, but not (frustratingly for posterity) from whom. He added more than 500 objects to the collection, either as gifts to the Museum or as part of his bequest.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt |
| Brief description | Pewter Pewter |
| Physical description | Rectangular pewter bottle covered with composition (TS & SL: leather?), with short tubular, silver-gilt neck and ring plug, the corners reinforced with silver-gilt scrollwork, the sides with nielloed silver plaques |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest |
| Object history | Acquisition RF: 55/4478A Dr WL Hildburgh FSA Bequest PS suggested southern Germany. There is a similar example in the Museum fur Kunst & Gewerbe, Hamburg. Robin Kealey (forensic scientist) suggests that the enveloping composition based on ground sea-shells. TS: could be Spanish, c. 1625 - reason: plaques and beading very much in the Herrara style; strong corner mounts and roughly prepared ground of the lid which looks as if it may have held enamel. The ‘composition’ could be very old solidified leather (see cracks around lids). |
| Summary | The material covering this bottle is possibly dried leather or a composition of ground up seashells. The enamel plaques are distinctly Spanish, although similar pieces have also been noted in Germany. This object, which is one of a pair (M.288&B-1956), offers a glimpse of the collecting activities of Walter Leo Hildburgh. The Museum’s early acquisitions of European silver in the 19th century relied heavily on important sales of private collections. During the early 20th century, however, the Museum was able to shape the collections more deliberately by influencing Hildburgh’s prolific collecting. Hildburgh travelled widely on buying expeditions, usually recording when and where he bought something, but not (frustratingly for posterity) from whom. He added more than 500 objects to the collection, either as gifts to the Museum or as part of his bequest. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.288A, C-1956 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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