Knop
1380-1399 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A knop is a protruding, globular ornament found under on the stems of cups and chalices or, as was once the case with this one, a staff. They make objects easier to hold and prevent the hand from slipping. A pastoral staff is carried by a bishop as a symbol of his role of shepherd to the Christian flock. The original staff, which may have been wooden, has been destroyed or become separated from the knop. The survival of small parts such as this can give us a wider knowledge of silver designs and techniques.The decoration echoes that of Gothic architecture, in particular the arches around the enamelled plaques of saints. The surviving enamels give an indication of how colourful this piece once was.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt, enamels |
| Brief description | Silver-gilt knop from a pastoral staff, Italy (Abruzzi), ca.1380-1400 |
| Physical description | Knop from a pastoral staff. Silver-gilt, depressed spherical, with 6 quatrefoil bosses set with enamelled plaques depicting half-figures of apostles, with a tier of 6 canopied and crocketed arches above containing enamelled plaques of saints. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Silver Gallery:
A knop is a protruding, globular ornament found under on the stems of cups and chalices or, as was once the case with this one, a staff. They make objects easier to hold and prevent the hand from slipping. A pastoral staff is carried by a bishop as a symbol of his role of shepherd to the Christian flock. The original staff, which may have been wooden, has been destroyed or become separated from the knop. The survival of small parts such as this can give us a wider knowledge of silver designs and techniques.The decoration echoes that of Gothic architecture, in particular the arches around the enamelled plaques of saints. The surviving enamels give an indication of how colourful this piece once was.(26/11/2002) |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh |
| Object history | Half figures of Peter, Paul, Philip, Bartholomew, saint with a book and St James the Greater. The pastoral staff in the Cathedral at Sulmona (Min. Educ. Mag.: Inventaris degli oggetti d’arte d’Italia - Prov di Aquila p.208) Not much enamel remains on the quatrefoil plaques but the others are almost intact. One canopy is broken, all except one of the intervening pinnacles have gone. |
| Production | Maker unidentified |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | A knop is a protruding, globular ornament found under on the stems of cups and chalices or, as was once the case with this one, a staff. They make objects easier to hold and prevent the hand from slipping. A pastoral staff is carried by a bishop as a symbol of his role of shepherd to the Christian flock. The original staff, which may have been wooden, has been destroyed or become separated from the knop. The survival of small parts such as this can give us a wider knowledge of silver designs and techniques.The decoration echoes that of Gothic architecture, in particular the arches around the enamelled plaques of saints. The surviving enamels give an indication of how colourful this piece once was. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.36-1951 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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