Ewer thumbnail 1
Ewer thumbnail 2
+11
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 67, The Whiteley Galleries

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Ewer

1852 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin



Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Ewer
  • Ewer
Materials and techniques
Electroplate, coated with oxydised silver and parcel gilt
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 12.0cm
  • Height: 29.5cm
  • Length: 16.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 1292 base: Publ. by Elkington Mason and Co. / Octr. 1852 1292a base: Published by Elkington & Co. 978 stamped on 1292a base: 978
  • Foliate scroll and strap work decoration, cartouches containing allegorical representations of 3 season on 3/4 of the globe, terminal femal figure on handle -adapted from design by Francois Briot
Object history
Bought from Elkington and Co for £9, 9s in 1854
Register says: English: Modern.
The body of this ewer is electrofromed from moulds designed by Benjamin Schlick of Elkingotn and Company of Birmingham. Schlick based his moulds on a ewer of around 1590 by the French medallist and die-cutter, Francois Briot (around 1550-1616). The Danish designer, Benjamin Schlick, supplied Elkingtons with moulds of classical and Renaissance antiquities and would frequently creating new versions to 'improve' them. The stem of this ewer is longer than Briot's original, and the handle straighter while the strapwork and scenes differeslightly. Elkingtons have partly oxidized the surface to give the ewer a grey texture contrasting with the gilding. While critic R.W. Wornum felt oxidation provided a welcome relief from the 'pure flashiness' of white silver, J.B. Waring asked, 'why make use of an expensive metal, to which you give the appearance of a common one?'
Associated object
4289-1857 (Model)
Collection
Accession number
1292A-1854

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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