Casket
ca. 1851 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The surface of this silver casket has been oxidized. Oxidisation involved darkening the silver. This was done with a chemical dip of a sulphide (such as ammonium sulphide) to bring out the sculptural contrasts of the design. The technique won great acclaim in France and England and was prefered to the overbright, commercial finishes on silver and electroplate. The casket was bought from the Great Exhibition for £36.
Speaking of the Continental silver at the Great Exhibition of 1851, one critic commented: "frosting and burnishing seem to be unanimously banished from all high class design, whether French or German, and oxidising substituted in their places, and the consequence is, that in many foreign examples, we have specimens of the most elaborate modelling, most effectively displayed as works of Art…".
Speaking of the Continental silver at the Great Exhibition of 1851, one critic commented: "frosting and burnishing seem to be unanimously banished from all high class design, whether French or German, and oxidising substituted in their places, and the consequence is, that in many foreign examples, we have specimens of the most elaborate modelling, most effectively displayed as works of Art…".
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Oxidised silver, parcel gilt |
| Brief description | Casket, made by Alexandre Gueyton, Paris, ca. 1851 |
| Physical description | Casket in "oxidised" silver, engraved and chased. A panel containing a group of figures in high relief on the front and back and a medallion with figures at either end: on the lid four busts in high relief, and a reclining female figure in the centre. The chased scene on the front shows Odysseus watching the young Achilles betraying his true identity by choosing weapons. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | (Chased scene on front shows Odysseus watching the young Achilles in disguise.) |
| Gallery label | CASKET
Manufacturer Alexandre Gueyton (1818-1862)
Paris, about 1851
"Oxidised" silver, parcel-gilt
154-1852
This casket was bought for £36 from the Great Exhibition, London, 1851. The selection committee commented that the casket was 'especially remarkable for the poetic treatment of the subject, and the spirited execution. The general form is elegant, and the ornaments are well distributed'. The scene on the front of the casket shows Odysseus watching the young Achilles, who had been disguised by his mother and send to live with the daughters of King Lycomedes, betraying his identity by choosing weapons.(1987-2006) |
| Object history | Bought for £36 from the Great Exhibition, London 1851 |
| Historical context | Speaking of the Continental silver at the Great Exhibition of 1851, one critic commented: "frosting and burnishing seem to be unanimously banished from all high class design, whether French or German, and oxidising substituted in their places, and the consequence is, that in many foreign examples, we have specimens of the most elaborate modelling, most effectively displayed as works of Art…". Oxidisation involved darkening the silver. This was done with a sulphide (such as ammonium sulphide), rather than with oxygen, and was thought to be beneficial because sculptural contrasts stood out much more clearly. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The surface of this silver casket has been oxidized. Oxidisation involved darkening the silver. This was done with a chemical dip of a sulphide (such as ammonium sulphide) to bring out the sculptural contrasts of the design. The technique won great acclaim in France and England and was prefered to the overbright, commercial finishes on silver and electroplate. The casket was bought from the Great Exhibition for £36. Speaking of the Continental silver at the Great Exhibition of 1851, one critic commented: "frosting and burnishing seem to be unanimously banished from all high class design, whether French or German, and oxidising substituted in their places, and the consequence is, that in many foreign examples, we have specimens of the most elaborate modelling, most effectively displayed as works of Art…". |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 154-1852 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 3, 2004 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
