The Apostle Matthias or Matthew
Figure
1500-1519 (made)
1500-1519 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This figure marked 'MATIAS' (Matthias or Matthew) is one of a set of 13 depicting Christ and the Apostles. They may have come from the sides of a casket, a shrine or perhaps the sides of a private altar. Small, cast figurines are often found on church silver, decorating processional crosses, reliquaries or chalices. Similar figures can also be found as spoon finials. Each figure holds an object which identifies him, such as a pair of keys for St Peter.
Silver figures were often used in private chapels around this date. For example, the English king Henry VIII had three gold and 49 silver-gilt 'images' in the 1521 inventory of the Chapel Royal.
Silver figures were often used in private chapels around this date. For example, the English king Henry VIII had three gold and 49 silver-gilt 'images' in the 1521 inventory of the Chapel Royal.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Title | The Apostle Matthias or Matthew (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, parcel-gilt |
| Brief description | Church plate, Continental held by Figure; Church plate, Continental |
| Physical description | The figures, representing Our Saviour and the twelve Apostles, are all cast solid and chased. They stand on square bases, with their names inscribed, and all have a Roman numeral scratched on them. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Purchase Old gallery label: “Although formerly attributed to an English workshop, these figures were probably made in Flanders. The spelling of the saints’ names rather than the style is a clue to that place of origin.” |
| Production | Belgium or South Germany; Maker unidentified |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This figure marked 'MATIAS' (Matthias or Matthew) is one of a set of 13 depicting Christ and the Apostles. They may have come from the sides of a casket, a shrine or perhaps the sides of a private altar. Small, cast figurines are often found on church silver, decorating processional crosses, reliquaries or chalices. Similar figures can also be found as spoon finials. Each figure holds an object which identifies him, such as a pair of keys for St Peter. Silver figures were often used in private chapels around this date. For example, the English king Henry VIII had three gold and 49 silver-gilt 'images' in the 1521 inventory of the Chapel Royal. |
| Bibliographic reference | Percival, Piers. 'A set of Apostle statuettes'. In: The Silver Society Journal, vol. 13 (Autumn 2001), pp. 40-49. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 6774-1860 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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