SILVER TASTEVIN FROM BECERRIL DE CAMPOS TOWN COUNCIL, 1806.

Catavinos of the chapter of Becerril de Campos, 1806. With legend at the base (“Catavino of the Most Illustrious Cabildo of Becerril de Campos with Royal Privilege year 1806”). Published in: Fernández, Alejandro et alt. Spanish and American Viceregal Silver Encyclopedia, Torreangulo Arte Grafico, Madrid, 1985. Page 485. / Redondo Aguayo, Anselmo. Historical monograph of the town of Becerril de Campos and biographical news of its most illustrious children. Bulletin of the Tello Tellez de Meneses Institution, 9, 1952. Page 149. Plain glass with a legend on the outer edge attached to a bowl with a convex seat decorated with relief gallons, engraved ovals and crosses and lines of beads arranged around a central circle that has been left plain. Due to its shape, it is closer to the Bordeaux type catawines than to the Burgundian type (the most common), and its shape seems to have been characteristic in Castile in the 17th century; It has not changed since then, maintaining its use and manufacturing. According to experts, these types of pieces were called “cups” until the 19th century, and we are not entirely sure that their use was utilitarian, with certain studies leaning towards a mainly decorative function. This would be the reason why, despite being a piece made in a secondary manufacturing center such as the municipality of Palencia, it has decoration all over its surface, in addition to the written legend. The gadroon motifs, like the oval shapes, are geometric decorations widely used in this type of pieces, especially since the Renaissance and due to the inspiration of this artistic style in Roman Antiquity. In the 19th century this inspiration in classicism returned to art, thanks to Neoclassicism. Despite the simplicity of the elements, there is a clear attempt by the artist to organize them harmoniously to give beauty to the piece. Both the material and the decorative excess (to come from a local center) support the theory, already mentioned, that the catavinos would have more representational use than normal use, being used in certain celebrations or events in which the council had a prominent role. This catavino is mentioned in Anselmo Redondo's study. It is very rare to preserve examples of civil silverware, since their owners used to sell objects with the intention of buying new ones, either better ones or made in another more modern artistic style, or for economic needs. Thus, the most common thing is to find religious silverware, which is the same as the civil one or varying only in its decorative elements. In addition, civil pieces used to be delivered to churches, convents, etc. as donations from individuals. It is worth highlighting, however, the extraordinary nature of this tasting wine: first, for its material; second, because of its typology; third, because its inscription makes it easy to locate its origin and date. Catavinos with similar characteristics to the present one are found at the Lázaro Galdiano Foundation in Madrid. Weight: 315g

· Size: 19x19x6 cms.