ca. 1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This set of four designs by Adriaen Collaert (c.1560-1618) would have been used to decorate plates or spice bowls. Spice bowls were small dishes (around 30 cm.) used to present sweets at the end of a meal, and were usually made with gold or silver. The centre of each of Collaert’s designs shows a specific mythological figure associated with the sea. In each, a band around the central image shows fantastical scenes of sea monsters, mermen and nudes. Many of the surrounding figures emphasise the identity of the central figures. For example, Arion is surrounded by musicians while the border of the Venus plate shows lovers and young woman admiring herself in a mirror. Around the outer rim of each design is a different geometric design. If these images were ever implemented in the production of a dish, they would have been luxurious and fashionable objects.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | engraving |
| Brief description | Design for a plate or cup with Neptune, from a series of four such designs after Adriaen Collaert. Flemish, ca. 1600. |
| Physical description | Square print with black ground on top of which is the design for the plate or cup; the design consists of a thin geometric border, and within it a broad ring decorated with fish, mermen and other sea creatures, and within that, a particular mythological figure, in this case, Arion. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Content description | Neptune sits on a shell in the ocean. With his left hand he holds the reigns of three horses and with his right his trident. Around the central scene in a wide band is a scene of mermen and sea creatures, including a seal, various crustaceans and an assortment of fish. Two of the mermen ride fish, one blowing a trumpet and the other holding a trident. In the water, one figure holds two sea snakes or eels, while another blows a horn, and another holds a shell and a palm. |
| Marks and inscriptions | "3 Adrianus Collaert fecit. Philippus Galle excudit" (bottom edge) |
| Object history | Though the central scenes are from the Old Testament rather than Classical mythology, see the silver spice bowls in the Victoria and Albert collection (M.55C-1946) to get an idea of how the Collaert designs may have been realised. (F. Allitt) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This set of four designs by Adriaen Collaert (c.1560-1618) would have been used to decorate plates or spice bowls. Spice bowls were small dishes (around 30 cm.) used to present sweets at the end of a meal, and were usually made with gold or silver. The centre of each of Collaert’s designs shows a specific mythological figure associated with the sea. In each, a band around the central image shows fantastical scenes of sea monsters, mermen and nudes. Many of the surrounding figures emphasise the identity of the central figures. For example, Arion is surrounded by musicians while the border of the Venus plate shows lovers and young woman admiring herself in a mirror. Around the outer rim of each design is a different geometric design. If these images were ever implemented in the production of a dish, they would have been luxurious and fashionable objects. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.5-1923 |
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 | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
