Not currently on display at the V&A

Meleager

Plaquette
late 15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Pseudo-Melioli (artist)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.


Object details

Categories
Plaques & Plaquettes
Sculpture
Myths & Legends
Object type
Plaquette
TitleMeleager (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, Meleager, by the pseudo Melioli, Italy, late 15th century
Physical description
Plaquette depicts Meleager naked on a horse, his sword raised to strike the boar running past below him.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 9.2cm
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subject depicted
Meleager
Summary
Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.
Bibliographic references
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p.63
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 14
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.403-1910

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O313770/meleager-plaquette-unknown/
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