Spanish manufacture

Exhibited by Artur Ramon Art

Material Silver with enameled decoration

Dimensions 13 x 18.5 x 17 cm

Place of Creation Spain

Status Vetted

About the Work

The gilded silver piece, crafted using casting, embossing, and ornamentation techniques, exemplifies early 17th-century Castilian courtly style. Characterized by enamelled ovals and decorative motifs, it displays floral enamels with blue and white backgrounds and pink flowers. This type of domestic silverware became popular when the Spanish court settled in Madrid in 1561, promoting civilian goldsmithing. However, the pragmatic decrees against luxury and the stylistic shift under Philip II favored more restrained designs until the mid-17th century, emphasizing pure lines and balanced ornamentation.

By the 18th century, with the advent of Bourbon customs, such items fell out of favor and were often melted down, making surviving examples exceedingly rare. Comparable works exist in the Museo Lázaro Galdiano in Madrid and the Monasterio de las Concepcionistas in Soria. These vessels, known for their bezoar stone inserts—believed to counteract poisons—reflect the 17th-century fascination with the mystical.

Similar pieces are depicted in Spanish still-life paintings by artists like Francisco Zurbarán and Juan Bautista Espinosa, dating around 1630. This particular piece stands as a testament to the skilled craftsmanship of the era and its enduring artistic significance.

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