Plaque
ca. 1550-ca. 1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This plaque is one of a pair which were probably made to decorate a large wooden cabinet belonging to a wealthy Italian household. The plaques depict lively domestic scenes: servants serving platters of food, narrowly avoiding being tripped up by an excited dog, and a group of strolling musicians. The maker has cleverly used the technique of damascening--hammering silver and gold into prepared grooves in the steel surface--to create a wide variety of patterns evoking the different textures of brick, floor tiles and fabric.
Goldsmiths guilds in Italy were less restrictive than elsewhere in Europe and permitted goldsmiths to work with base metals as well as with silver and gold. These plaques may have been made in a goldsmiths' workshop or by a goldsmith-armourer. The quality of Italian damascened steel armour was renowned throughout 16th century Europe.
Goldsmiths guilds in Italy were less restrictive than elsewhere in Europe and permitted goldsmiths to work with base metals as well as with silver and gold. These plaques may have been made in a goldsmiths' workshop or by a goldsmith-armourer. The quality of Italian damascened steel armour was renowned throughout 16th century Europe.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Steel, damascened with silver and gold |
| Brief description | one of a pair; Ironwork |
| Physical description | Plaque of steel, damascened with silver and gold |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Silver Gallery:
These plaques were probably made to decorate a large wooden cabinet belonging to a wealthy Italian household. The plaques depict lively domestic scenes: servants serving platters of food, narrowly avoiding being tripped up by an excited dog, and a group of strolling musicians. The maker has cleverly used the technique of damascening - hammering silver and gold into prepared grooves in the steel surface - to create a wide variety of patterns evoking the different textures of brick, floor tiles and fabric.
The Italian goldsmith guilds were less restrictive than elsewhere in Europe and permitted goldsmiths to work with base metals as well as with silver and gold. These plaques may have been made in a goldsmiths' workshop or by a goldsmith-armourer. The quality of Italian damascened steel armour was renowned throughout Europe.(26/11/2002) |
| Object history | Purchase - (£15) Perhaps from cabinet |
| Summary | This plaque is one of a pair which were probably made to decorate a large wooden cabinet belonging to a wealthy Italian household. The plaques depict lively domestic scenes: servants serving platters of food, narrowly avoiding being tripped up by an excited dog, and a group of strolling musicians. The maker has cleverly used the technique of damascening--hammering silver and gold into prepared grooves in the steel surface--to create a wide variety of patterns evoking the different textures of brick, floor tiles and fabric. Goldsmiths guilds in Italy were less restrictive than elsewhere in Europe and permitted goldsmiths to work with base metals as well as with silver and gold. These plaques may have been made in a goldsmiths' workshop or by a goldsmith-armourer. The quality of Italian damascened steel armour was renowned throughout 16th century Europe. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 382-1854 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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