Silver altar flagon, by John Keith

An image of Church plate. Altar flagon. Keith, John, silversmith, London. The flagon stands on a stepped and slightly domed foot, the step of which is pierced with a series of holes. The tapering cylindrical body is annulated with roll moldings, one at the top and bottom, and two pairs at intervals between. The cover is attached to the body by means of a hinge with a trefoil-shaped thumbpiece pierced by four hearts; the lower part of the side of the cover is pierced with a series of groups of four holes. The S-shaped spout is engraved with a pair of spiralling lines, and is linked to the body by a cinquefoil within a circle. The curling ends of the flat, ear-shaped handle terminate in fleurs-de-lys. Below the moulding at the top of the body there is a border of engraved scallops and small circles. Between the upper pair of roll mouldings there is a running trefoil-ended cross pattern against a diagonally hatched ground. Between the lower pair is the inscription 'TE LAVDAMVS TIBI BENEDICIMVS' preceded by a Cross, and with a lozenge between TE and LAVDAMVS and between TIBI and BENEDICIMVS. On a disc inserted under the foot is the inscription 'To the Glory of God and in loving remembrance of Thomas Barber who fell asleep in Jesus on the + Feast of the Circumcision 1863. +'. Silver, raised body, with many traces of gilding, and engraved decoration, height, overall, 26.5 cm, width, handle to spout, 18 cm, weight, whole, 680 g, between 1861-1862. Gothic Revival. Victorian. SL.2043.

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Church plate. Altar flagon. Keith, John, silversmith, London. The flagon stands on a stepped and slightly domed foot, the step of which is pierced with a series of holes. The tapering cylindrical body is annulated with roll moldings, one at the top and bottom, and two pairs at intervals between. The cover is attached to the body by means of a hinge with a trefoil-shaped thumbpiece pierced by four hearts; the lower part of the side of the cover is pierced with a series of groups of four holes. The S-shaped spout is engraved with a pair of spiralling lines, and is linked to the body by a cinquefoil within a circle. The curling ends of the flat, ear-shaped handle terminate in fleurs-de-lys. Below the moulding at the top of the body there is a border of engraved scallops and small circles. Between the upper pair of roll mouldings there is a running trefoil-ended cross pattern against a diagonally hatched ground. Between the lower pair is the inscription 'TE LAVDAMVS TIBI BENEDICIMVS' preceded by a Cross, and with a lozenge between TE and LAVDAMVS and between TIBI and BENEDICIMVS. On a disc inserted under the foot is the inscription 'To the Glory of God and in loving remembrance of Thomas Barber who fell asleep in Jesus on the + Feast of the Circumcision 1863. +'. Silver, raised body, with many traces of gilding, and engraved decoration, height, overall, 26.5 cm, width, handle to spout, 18 cm, weight, whole, 680 g, between 1861-1862. Gothic Revival. Victorian. SL.2043.

Image data

Accession Number: M.13-1981
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Photographer name: Image Library
Image height: 1502 pixels
Image width: 1024 pixels
Processed with: ACD Systems Digital Imaging
Filesize: 167.01kB

Key words

19th Century _WF_AdOK _WF_KWD _WF_OPAC altar flagon church plate cinquefoil cover ecclesiastical English engraved engraving Fitz_AA flagon fleur-de-lis fleur-de-lys gilded gilding Gothic Revival handle handled inscribed inscriptions John Keith lidded liturgical pierced raised religion religious silver silverware spout spouted Victorian

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024)
            "Silver altar flagon, by John Keith"
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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Silver altar flagon, by John Keith</figcaption>
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