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Lot Essay
It is rare to find a 17th century ewer accompanied by the rosewater basin with which it was purchased in the late 17th century. It is rarer still for both to belong to a descendant of the 17th century owner, and it is almost unheard of for pieces of this importance to be accompanied by the original bill of purchase. The Teniers ewer and basin are both exceptional survivals and magnificent examples of the finest Flemish goldsmith's work. They were acquired by the artist David Teniers IV (1672-1731) in Antwerp from silversmith Wierick Somers III on the 2 March 1696 (see illustration). The ewer and basin, or 'Lampetpot' and 'schotel' as they are described on the invoice, were a gift to his mother and stepfather, Anna Maria, née Bonnaerens and Bartholomeus Alexander van Goethem on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of their marriage. The joining of the two families is celebrated by the accollé coats-of-arms engraved on the putti supported oval cartouches on the broad border of the dish and the arms simply engraved on the body of the ewer. The border of the dish is chased in the auricular style with masks, berried acanthus foliage scrolls and cartouches enclosing putti. The centre depicts the coat-of-arms of the City of Gent, with the allegorical figure of the Maid of Ghent and with the lion resting at her feet. Teniers was the grandson of the artist David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690) and the son of David Teniers III (1638-1685), who had married Anna Maria Bonnarens in 1671.
The rosewater ewer and basin are the grandest form of display plate. As the centrepiece of a buffet or sideboard they represented the hospitality of the host and his wealth. These costly objects evolved from the dishes held by servants beneath the hands of a guest to catch the scented rosewater poured from a ewer. This was an essential part of the ritual of dining when the guests used a knife, a spoon and their fingers to eat. With the advent of the fork and a refinement of the etiquette of dining the rosewater ewer and basin became to be used more for display than use. During times of hardship it was not unusual to melt wrought silver objects to produce bullion or coinage. This places an even greater important on the richness of the decoration of the dish and ewer - the skills of the greatest chasers being a large part of the cost of production.
The translation of the bill
"A large silver dish (not deep), the border skillfully repoussé with in a centre the Virgin of Gand, and weighing 116.5 ounces and half (English?) bought from him and including the making priced at 61,5 silver deniers per ounces bringing it to 354 florins 6.
A silver ewer, also skillfully repoussé and weighing 53 ounces and 11 "English" bought from the same maker at 55 deniers per ounces totalling 147 florins and 5.
For the making of the ewer as agreed, 25 florins.
For a reward given as the arms were so well engraved, 10 florins.
In money the total being 537 florins.
Made in Antwerp March 2nd 1696"
The rosewater ewer and basin are the grandest form of display plate. As the centrepiece of a buffet or sideboard they represented the hospitality of the host and his wealth. These costly objects evolved from the dishes held by servants beneath the hands of a guest to catch the scented rosewater poured from a ewer. This was an essential part of the ritual of dining when the guests used a knife, a spoon and their fingers to eat. With the advent of the fork and a refinement of the etiquette of dining the rosewater ewer and basin became to be used more for display than use. During times of hardship it was not unusual to melt wrought silver objects to produce bullion or coinage. This places an even greater important on the richness of the decoration of the dish and ewer - the skills of the greatest chasers being a large part of the cost of production.
The translation of the bill
"A large silver dish (not deep), the border skillfully repoussé with in a centre the Virgin of Gand, and weighing 116.5 ounces and half (English?) bought from him and including the making priced at 61,5 silver deniers per ounces bringing it to 354 florins 6.
A silver ewer, also skillfully repoussé and weighing 53 ounces and 11 "English" bought from the same maker at 55 deniers per ounces totalling 147 florins and 5.
For the making of the ewer as agreed, 25 florins.
For a reward given as the arms were so well engraved, 10 florins.
In money the total being 537 florins.
Made in Antwerp March 2nd 1696"