Bowl
late 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The decoration on this copper bowl tells us that it was made in Venice between 1550 and 1600. It was influenced by the objects Venetian merchants brought back to the city when trading with the Turkish and Arab empires that bordered the Mediterranean.
The decoration on Venetian metalwork was extensive, often covering the entire surface of an object. This copper bowl formerly had silver inlay, another decorative technique widely used on Venetian metalwork. The thin layer of gold (gilding) on the surface was added later.
The scrolling foliage is a feature of the arabesque pattern based on a stylised plant with a winding stem. Italian artists studied and copied the new arabesque pattern and by about 1550 it was beginning to influence designers all over Europe.
The decoration on Venetian metalwork was extensive, often covering the entire surface of an object. This copper bowl formerly had silver inlay, another decorative technique widely used on Venetian metalwork. The thin layer of gold (gilding) on the surface was added later.
The scrolling foliage is a feature of the arabesque pattern based on a stylised plant with a winding stem. Italian artists studied and copied the new arabesque pattern and by about 1550 it was beginning to influence designers all over Europe.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Copper, formerly inlaid with silver and afterwards gilt |
| Brief description | Copper bowl with slightly moulded lip, decorated with scrollwork and interlacing foliage, Venetian-Saracenic, late 16th century |
| Physical description | Round copper bowl, with a slightly moulded lip, the sides decorated with floral scrollwork and the base with floral interlace. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W L Hildburgh, FSA |
| Production | probably by a Muslim craftsman |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The decoration on this copper bowl tells us that it was made in Venice between 1550 and 1600. It was influenced by the objects Venetian merchants brought back to the city when trading with the Turkish and Arab empires that bordered the Mediterranean. The decoration on Venetian metalwork was extensive, often covering the entire surface of an object. This copper bowl formerly had silver inlay, another decorative technique widely used on Venetian metalwork. The thin layer of gold (gilding) on the surface was added later. The scrolling foliage is a feature of the arabesque pattern based on a stylised plant with a winding stem. Italian artists studied and copied the new arabesque pattern and by about 1550 it was beginning to influence designers all over Europe. |
| Bibliographic reference | Sylvia Auld, Renaissance Venice, Islam and Mahmud the Kurd. A metalworking enigma, 2004, no.2.60, p.182. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.19-1946 |
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 10, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
