The Dolphin Basin
Basin
1635 (made)
1635 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This basin and a now lost ewer were used for rosewater. They would have been brought to the table for diners to wash their hands at the end of the meal. When not in use, the basin was meant to hang vertically with the dolphins and the grotesque mask at the top. There are holes at the top, from which it could be suspended.
People
Christiaen van Vianen (active 1600-67) came from a famous family of Utrecht goldsmiths. He worked for Charles I and after the Restoration became 'silversmyth in ordinary' to Charles II. His work was mostly in the fantastical style developed by his father and uncle, Adam and Paul van Vianen. Although this basin is not hallmarked, it was signed by him on the reverse 'C.d. Vianen fecit 1635', just as painters signed their work.
Design & Designing
The 'auricular' style of this piece refers to the shape of the human ear. It combines exaggerated marine and natural forms with grotesque figures in swirling patterns. The style was developed by Adam van Vianen in Utrecht in the first two decades of the 17th century and used extensively by his son Christiaen. In this instance, the silver has been raised and embossed from a single sheet into brilliant, illusionist shapes. This demanded great skill on the part of the craftsman.
The dolphins and other marine shapes on this basin are appropriate for a vessel used for washing.
This basin and a now lost ewer were used for rosewater. They would have been brought to the table for diners to wash their hands at the end of the meal. When not in use, the basin was meant to hang vertically with the dolphins and the grotesque mask at the top. There are holes at the top, from which it could be suspended.
People
Christiaen van Vianen (active 1600-67) came from a famous family of Utrecht goldsmiths. He worked for Charles I and after the Restoration became 'silversmyth in ordinary' to Charles II. His work was mostly in the fantastical style developed by his father and uncle, Adam and Paul van Vianen. Although this basin is not hallmarked, it was signed by him on the reverse 'C.d. Vianen fecit 1635', just as painters signed their work.
Design & Designing
The 'auricular' style of this piece refers to the shape of the human ear. It combines exaggerated marine and natural forms with grotesque figures in swirling patterns. The style was developed by Adam van Vianen in Utrecht in the first two decades of the 17th century and used extensively by his son Christiaen. In this instance, the silver has been raised and embossed from a single sheet into brilliant, illusionist shapes. This demanded great skill on the part of the craftsman.
The dolphins and other marine shapes on this basin are appropriate for a vessel used for washing.
Delve deeper
Discover more about this object
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Dolphin Basin (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, burnished, embossed and chased |
| Brief description | Van Vianen 'Dolphin Basin |
| Physical description | The dish has a raised, wavy undulating rim in the form of two dolphins, the heads of which come together on one of the short sides, water appearing to stream from them into a dish. Among the waves on the bottom can be seen a dolphin pouncing on a smaller fish. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Given by Sir John Ramsden |
| Object history | Made in London by Christiaen van Vianen (born in Utrecht, The Netherlands, about 1598, possibly died there, 1667) |
| Production | Signed and dated 1635 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This basin and a now lost ewer were used for rosewater. They would have been brought to the table for diners to wash their hands at the end of the meal. When not in use, the basin was meant to hang vertically with the dolphins and the grotesque mask at the top. There are holes at the top, from which it could be suspended. People Christiaen van Vianen (active 1600-67) came from a famous family of Utrecht goldsmiths. He worked for Charles I and after the Restoration became 'silversmyth in ordinary' to Charles II. His work was mostly in the fantastical style developed by his father and uncle, Adam and Paul van Vianen. Although this basin is not hallmarked, it was signed by him on the reverse 'C.d. Vianen fecit 1635', just as painters signed their work. Design & Designing The 'auricular' style of this piece refers to the shape of the human ear. It combines exaggerated marine and natural forms with grotesque figures in swirling patterns. The style was developed by Adam van Vianen in Utrecht in the first two decades of the 17th century and used extensively by his son Christiaen. In this instance, the silver has been raised and embossed from a single sheet into brilliant, illusionist shapes. This demanded great skill on the part of the craftsman. The dolphins and other marine shapes on this basin are appropriate for a vessel used for washing. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.1-1918 |
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 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
