Pilgrim's flask. Italy, XIX century. Glass and gilded bronze.

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19th & 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Ar...

By Setdart Auction House

Oct 27, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-10-27 10:00:00 2021-10-27 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : 19th & 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Arts https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/setdart-auction-house/19th-20th-century-paintings-decorative-arts-7767
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• Lot Description
  Pilgrim's flask. Italy, XIX century. Glass and gilded bronze. Measurements: 45 cm (height). Pilgrim flasks are small metal or glass jars, which pilgrims used in the early Middle Ages to carry home water or oil from the lamps that burned in the sanctuaries visited. They also held oil that had been placed near the relics of a martyr and even earth piously dug from around a worshipped tomb. The present case, so richly ornamented, is a magnificent example of the exuberance of craftsmanship and design. The workmanship and decorative elements elevate them above the level of utilitarian decorative art to a sculptural level. This object typology has its roots in the leather water flask carried by the pilgrim or traveler of the Middle Ages. T. Schroder in "The Gilbert Collection of Silver and Gold," traces the development of the form to late 16th century French silver specimens; although described as "demijohns," they have the same pear-shaped, elongated neck and oval section of later examples. A rare French Renaissance example, with dragon-shaped chains, engraved with the arms of King Henry III, is preserved in the chapel of the Order of the Saint-Esprit, Paris. Particularly large flasks with fine card work were produced in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. A fine example by Anthony Nelme, dated 1715, is in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth, Derbyshire. Another bearing the arms of John, 1st Duke of Marlborough, by John Goode is in the collection of Earl Spencer, Althorp, Northamptonshire. Contemporary engravings, such as Martin Engelbrecht's depiction of the large silver buffet in the Rittersaal at the Berlin Schloss, circa 1708, indicate that they were arranged on side buffets during formal banquets. Placed in wine cisterns, they also served to decant wine.
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