Handsome Nuremberg 19th century silver ewer, with marks for Nuremberg and import mark for Austro-Hungary, of handsome proportions, with frilled lip decorated with palmettes to neck, above an ovoid shaped body chased with a frieze depicting a battle scene with castle in background, with mythical loop handle, on a spreading foot, total weight 467gm, height 12.01 in.
- Oviform /ovoid - The outline loosely resembling the shape of an egg.
- Chasing - The method of decorating gold and silver objects using a punch and hammer so that the design appears in relief. Flat or surface chasing is done from the front giving the item definition, but not cutting into the metal.
Chasing is the opposite technique to repousse, but an object that has repousse work, may then have chasing applied to create a finished piece.
- Ewer / Pitcher - A type of jug with a narrow neck bulbous body and wide spout, originally used for carrying and storing liquids such as water or wine. In medieval times they were the source of water to wash ones hands during and after a meal. later the shape was used for vessels in silver, gold, glass and ceramics.
In Victorian times they were made in ceramics and occasionally glass with a matching basin, and sometimes other accessories such as a soap holder or toothbrush holder. Their purpose was to provide facilities for personal washing In the early 19th century were often enclosed in purpose built stands, and later resided on a washstand..
Sometimes the words "ewer" and "pitcher" are used interchangably, but a pitcher is generally considered to be a jug, and would have a wide mouth, and a gently tapering body.
- Frieze - An architectural term denoting the flat, shaped or convex horizontal surface of furniture, between the architrave and the cornice, usually found on a cabinet or bookcase, or on desks and tables where it may include drawers, the area between the top and the legs. In ceramics, the term refers to the banding, of usually a repeating pattern, on the rims of plates and vases.
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