Alms dish “Almoner”
Wrought, embossed and punched brass
South Germany (Nuremberg), 16th century
Diam. 51 cm
Central disk with an Angel holding two shields; surrounded by a double band decorated with letters of the alphabet and leafy vegetal motifs inserted in small successive circles.
Outside of these, a double crown with phytomorphic motifs closes the rare and rich ornamentation of the central part of the dish.
Wide rim decorated with a punch with a double crown; the first vegetal and the second presenting stylized architectural motifs.
The dish, in excellent condition, of great rarity in terms of ornamentation, and of considerable size, dates to the production of southern Germany (Nuremberg) in the 16th century.
These artifacts were made by cold hammering on previously created negatives, and decorated with a punch.
Their function could be liturgical… or profane.
The decorative value of these splendid gold-colored artifacts meant that they often adorned and enriched the interiors of patrician homes.
How many times have we seen them portrayed in Italian or Flemish paintings from the Renaissance period depicting the interiors of sumptuous homes.
Or used, always with ornamental value, to decorate rooms during parties and rich banquets.
The work, like all our other items, is sold with certificates of authenticity and lawful provenance.
We personally handle and organize the packaging and shipping of works of art with insurance worldwide.
If the work is purchased by non-Italian customers, it will require a certificate of free circulation.
This can be obtained in 10/20 working days.
The gallery will handle the bureaucratic and economic aspects of this.
All costs of the operation are therefore included in the price.
Reference bibliography
-Tamás Egyeki – Szabo, Beckenschlagerschusseln (15.-16. Jahrhundert), Mester Nyomda, Budapest 2008
-Oleg Zastrow, The collection of 15th and 16th-century brass basins in the civic collections of applied art of the Sforza Castle
-Hermann P. Lockner, Messing - 15-17 Jahrhundert, Klinkhardt & Biermann, Munich 1982-
