Cheffins
Lot 360
apparently unmarked, probably late 16th century, of globular form with cylindrical neck, loop handle and mottled brown glaze, the deep collar engraved with trailing foliage around a lion mask, the slightly domed and hinged cover chased in relief with gadroon style decoration topped with a decorative finial, cast double-sided lion mask thumb-piece, each side of the handle mount engraved with cross check decoration, the outer edge with engraved scrolls, around the initials ‘RC’, spreading mount around the foot chased with a border above a band of stylised egg and dart decoration, 26cm in heightProvenance:Landwade Hall, SuffolkFootnote: Tigerware, also known as salt-glazed stoneware, was developed in the 16th century in the Rhenish potting centres of Frechen and Cologne, Germany, and was imported into England as bottles, jugs and tankards.It has a thin, clear glaze with a slightly pitted ‘orange-peel’ texture, widely thought to be achieved by throwing salt into the kiln during firing, although others believe it was due to the quartz-sand structure of the clay found in the Frechen region. (D. Gaimster, German Stoneware 1200 - 1900 Archaeology and Cultural History, London, 1977, p. 208). Although the clay is grey, a wash of iron oxide matures it to a brown surface colour, hence its alternative name of brown stoneware.Beer was the preferred beverage in 16th century England for all classes, and unmounted "Tigerware" stoneware jugs were ubiquitous in the Tudor household. It has been recorded that the city of Exeter alone was importing up to five thousand jugs a year by the end of the 16th century.The fashion for adorning these vessels with silver mounts appears to have started at the Royal Court. King Henry VIII's Cardinal Wolsey and his administrator, Thomas Cromwell, apparently both possessed such jugs in the 1520s. By 1574, the Jewel House contained examples made for the Marquess of Exeter in 1538 and another for Edward, Duke of Somerset from 1552. Following the King’s lead, many wealthy Elizabethan drinkers had their jugs and mugs mounted with silver decorated in the latest style with engraved fruit, figures and animals. Engraving the mounts with a Coat of Arms, initials or a merchant’s mark was also commonplace and a sign of ownership.Given their relatively small metal content, many survived the great bullion melting of the English Civil War, making them perhaps the most recognised example of late 16th century silver today. However, because of the fragility of the material and the fact that these pieces were in fashion for a relatively short time (from approximately 1550 to 1640), only a fraction of those produced over 400 years ago have survived to the present day.(An almost identical example was sold by Christie's in June 2015 for £8750: Live Auction 10397 - Centuries of Style: Silver, European Ceramics, Portrait Miniatures and Gold Boxes. Lot 645)Condition report: Overall in good condition for its age.Metalware: Some surface scratching as to be expected. Hinge rather loose but in good condition. Cover a loose fit and the rim a little out of shape. Edges around the handle a little rippled. Foot a little loose and can be rotated. Inner of the collar with poor but intact seam joint.Ceramic: In good condition with no obvious sign of damage. Uneven colouring, and a number of firing imperfections, particularly to the body
