SILVER CUP WITH INSCRIPTION. POSSIBLY SOUTH AMERICAN, 18TH CENTURY.
Antiques - Miscellaneus / Silver
Reference: ZF1058
Tembladera or bernegal with ownership inscription. Possibly Hispanic American, 18th century. A silver-plated squib with a wide, circular base and a larger mouth. The body features a fine line engraved toward the rim and a ownership inscription on the front (Lucas Vilacha) made with small dots. It also features two handles decorated with plant elements and grotesques with human heads, with lion- or dog-like shapes visible at the top. Baroque tendencies continued in Spanish silversmithing for almost the first two-thirds of the 18th century, except in the capital, where Rococo forms were already being introduced without displacing the earlier ones. It wasn't until 1740 that French silversmiths introduced these innovations to Madrid, which slowly spread to the rest of the centers, depending on the area and master. This survival of 17th-century forms can be seen in the handles of the wobbler: the grotesques with human heads are prominently displayed, a decorative abundance that contrasts with the clean lines of the rest of the work, but which is common in this type of work. The lack of hallmarks makes it impossible to locate the work or the artist, although this is precisely what speaks in favor of a secondary silversmith center, where the lack of control over these works was more common due to the lack of masters and the means to ensure compliance with hallmarking regulations. Bernegales and tembladeras were the most common types of silverware in 17th-century Spain (although they remained popular in the 18th century, especially in centers far from the main craft centers). In the case of this piece, the handles could indicate American manufacture, although there are similar cases thought to have been made in the Iberian Peninsula. It is worth mentioning that there is evidence of the baptism of a Lucas Vilachá in 1783 in Lanza (La Paz, Bolivia). Compare with works such as the tembladera by Antonio Sánchez dated between 1655 and 1689 from the Convent of the Poor Clares of Villacastín, others preserved in the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Madrid, etc. Weight: 325 grams.
· Size: 20x15x7,6 cms.
1.700 €
