Shrine: C.2064-1928

Maker(s)

Production: Unidentified Westerwald pottery

Entities

• Shrine
• incense burner

Categories

• Stoneware
• Salt-glazed stoneware
• German stoneware

Description

Pale buff salt-glazed stoneware shrine decorated with skulls, putti, and angels, supported by rampant lions with gaping jaws, standing on a rectangular base bearing small vases and candle holders

Pale buff stoneware, hand-built, with moulded and incised decoration, applied moulded figures, and salt-glaze. The shrine is in the form of a central cone-shaped mound flattened on the front and back. At the bottom it has a leaf-shaped opening on the front and a much larger one on the back, leading into a space inside for relics, or an incense burner. It stands on a rectangular base whose sides resemble balustrades, and stands on a larger rectangular base, whose sides are formed by half figures of men wearing tricorne hats and women holding fans, with pierced spaces between them. On the lower right front corner there is a low candlestick, originally matched by another on the left, now missing, two small vases are set on the corners of the upper base. On the back lower left corner there is a small vase, originally matched by one on the right, now missing, and above on the smaller base, a small vase on either side. The central mound has lost a feature from its apex, probably a Crucifix, as it is flanked by standing figures of the Virgin and St John the Evangelist and between them, lower down, a priest kneeling in adoration. The sides of the shrine are decorated with an arch of skulls and putti, and horizontal bands of putti playing musical instruments, and smaller putti, with a large central cone. On the upper part of the back there is a pyramidal arrangement of skulls with two angel musicians below, and below them, a cone, from which incised stylized foliage and flowers branch on either side to cover the surface. On the right and left of the angel musicians there are areas of restoration. On either side of the mound, standing on the smaller of the two bases, there are large rampant lions with gaping mouths and shaggy manes, made of shredded clay.

Notes

History note: Puttick & Simpson London, 6 June 1919, lot 117; sold for 23 guineas; Mr Newton who sold it for £35 to Mr Stoner, who sold it for £50 on 19 June 1919 to Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge.

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, first half#
Circa 1700 - 1750

Note

Rackham, 1935, considered that this was a shrine, and that the interior space at the bottom was intended to hold relics. However, it could equally have bee used for an incense or perfume burner, whose smoke would have issued from the open mouths of the lions. .