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Centrepiece

1983 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Jocelyn Burton, winner of the De Beers Diamond Award, 1968, and made Freeman of the Goldsmiths' Company in 1974, has designed and made distinguished silver for several English institutions, notably St. Paul's Cathedral, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge and many livery companies.

The Museum's brief for this commission required that the design of this centrepiece should directly reflect the spirit of the institution; the designer has taken the entrance tower of the Aston Webb extension, (begun 1899, completed 1909) as her starting point.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver, cast pierced and chased set with moonstones on a black marble plinth.
Brief description
Centrepiece, silver, moonstones, black marble, England (London), mark of Jocelyn Burton, 1983
Physical description
This table centrepiece sits on a square, polished, black marble plinth. Each side of the plinth has a rectangular section of silver, set with moonstones in each corner and bearing an inscription. The centrepiece is a scale, simplified model of the Aston Webb tower over the main entrance to the Museum. The arched "doorways" on each side are oxidised.
Dimensions
  • Height: 39.5cm
  • Base width: 17.6cm
  • Base depth: 17.6cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • London hallmarks for 1983
  • Mark of Jocelyn Burton
  • R.S. ME FIERI FECIT
    Translation
    Sir Roy Strong commissioned me.
  • MDCCCLXXXIII
    Translation
    1983
  • AEDIBUS RENOVATIS ORNATIS MEMORIAEQUE
    Translation
    In memory of the renovation and redecoration of buildings (in the Museum).
  • HENRICI COLE DEDICATIS (The inscriptions are inscribed on four silver slips attached to the marble plinth.)
    Translation
    Dedicated to Henry Cole
Gallery label
CENTREPIECE Silver and moonstones on a black marble plinth Designed and made by Jocelyn Burton London, 1983 Inscribed: R. S. ME FIERI FECIT (Sir Roy STrong comissioned me AEDIBUS RENOVATIS ORNATIS MEMORIAEQUE (in memory of the renovation and redecoration of the buildings) HENRICI COLE DEDICATIS (dedicated to Henry Cole) The designer has taken as her starting point the entrance tower of the Aston Webb building (begun 1901, completed 1908)(Pre-2000)
Object history
This centrepiece was commissioned by the Director, Sir Roy Strong, as part of a series of table ornaments by contemporary silversmiths for use at official entertainments. This centrepiece is to commemorate Sir Henry Cole's activities as first Director of the Museum.
Subject depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Jocelyn Burton, winner of the De Beers Diamond Award, 1968, and made Freeman of the Goldsmiths' Company in 1974, has designed and made distinguished silver for several English institutions, notably St. Paul's Cathedral, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge and many livery companies.

The Museum's brief for this commission required that the design of this centrepiece should directly reflect the spirit of the institution; the designer has taken the entrance tower of the Aston Webb extension, (begun 1899, completed 1909) as her starting point.
Collection
Accession number
M.158-1984

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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