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Lot Essay
Previously sold Sotheby's Billingshurst 16th June 1998, lot 327. It had been entered by a Dutch collector who had bought it from another Dutch collector who had bought it from Richard Mundey.
The English attribution of this and similar flagons is based on recorded silver and pewter flagons of similar form, see Michaelis, 'Pear-shaped Pewter flagons', Antique Collector 1961 for a list of silver flagons recorded by him. Recorded pewter flagons or measures of this form include the pear-shaped flagon from the Mary Rose and the Hitchin Museum flagon both illustrated by Peal, Pewter of Great Britain, 1983, pl.3 and Fig. 47;. An example from a Somerset church recorded for the Journal of the Pewter Society by Dr. Ronald Homer, Spring 1995, p.19. The Worshipful Company Collection catalogue 'The Woodeaton' flagon, No.131. and the pair of flagons in the Byloke Museum, Ghent, recorded by Boucaud as by Edward Glover, circa 1600 are all examples confirming an English attribution.
The Museum of London exhibition of 1989, No.40, lot 76. in this sale, shows another excavated from the Thames at Deptford. It is also interesting to note that a 14th Century cruet excavated from Chertsey No.136. in the same exhibition shares the same body shape. Nos 41 and 43 from the same exhibition, lots 147 & 148 in this sale are further recorded examples.
The fact that the capacity relates to the wine pottle is a further indication of the English origin of the lot. For prints of pottle measures see The Exchequer Standard of 1496, p.37 of the Museum of London catalogue, 1989. The hammerhead thumbpiece is found on English measures more frequently than Continental pieces. However the style of the hammerhead is close to the Mary Rose flagon. Although cast medallions are found on both Continental and English flagons and measures, the secular nature of the medallion on this lot contrasts with the religious motifs found on Continental examples.
The English attribution of this and similar flagons is based on recorded silver and pewter flagons of similar form, see Michaelis, 'Pear-shaped Pewter flagons', Antique Collector 1961 for a list of silver flagons recorded by him. Recorded pewter flagons or measures of this form include the pear-shaped flagon from the Mary Rose and the Hitchin Museum flagon both illustrated by Peal, Pewter of Great Britain, 1983, pl.3 and Fig. 47;. An example from a Somerset church recorded for the Journal of the Pewter Society by Dr. Ronald Homer, Spring 1995, p.19. The Worshipful Company Collection catalogue 'The Woodeaton' flagon, No.131. and the pair of flagons in the Byloke Museum, Ghent, recorded by Boucaud as by Edward Glover, circa 1600 are all examples confirming an English attribution.
The Museum of London exhibition of 1989, No.40, lot 76. in this sale, shows another excavated from the Thames at Deptford. It is also interesting to note that a 14th Century cruet excavated from Chertsey No.136. in the same exhibition shares the same body shape. Nos 41 and 43 from the same exhibition, lots 147 & 148 in this sale are further recorded examples.
The fact that the capacity relates to the wine pottle is a further indication of the English origin of the lot. For prints of pottle measures see The Exchequer Standard of 1496, p.37 of the Museum of London catalogue, 1989. The hammerhead thumbpiece is found on English measures more frequently than Continental pieces. However the style of the hammerhead is close to the Mary Rose flagon. Although cast medallions are found on both Continental and English flagons and measures, the secular nature of the medallion on this lot contrasts with the religious motifs found on Continental examples.