Treasures of the Goldsmith's Art
Treasures of the Goldsmith's Art
The Michael Wellby Bequest to the Ashmolean Museum
Timothy Wilson and Mathew Winterbottom
ISBN 9781910807019
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Pages:160
size: 7.75 in x 10.25 in.
Illustrations: 80 color
Binding: Paperback with flaps
From the Late Medieval to the Rococo, princely treasures preserved in Vienna, Innsbruck, Dresden and elsewhere in Europe
The Michael Wellby bequest to the Ashmolean Museum
Many of the objects included have not been previously published or reproduced
Fully illustrated. Glossary of technical terms, bibliography, and index
Drinking cups from the age of Durer, devotional books and rare objects, intricate sculptures and fabulous dinnerware for nobility -- examples of the basse-taille technique, works with ivory, precious jewels, silver gilt -- from the hands of Portuguese, Dutch, French, Italian, English, Mexican and Turkish masters. These 'princely treasures' very unique examples from the exquisite Wellby Bequest to the Ashmolean Museum which consists of 500 precious and exotic objects. This bequest is the most important to come to any museum in the UK since an 1898 gift to the British Museum. The collection gathered by three generations within the Wellby family will be of special interest to collectors. Markings of Giovacchino Belli, Matthias Loth (1675-1738), Augsburg Goldsmiths' Guild, Andreas Berckmann (1685 ), Maria Faydherbe (1587-1643) and others.
Many of these objects have never been previously published. This beautiful and accessible book introduces over 60 of the prime pieces from this astonishing addition to the Ashmolean, the museum of the University of Oxford, presenting material of the type incomparably superior in workmanship to what is traditionally seen of goldsmith's art. Both authors are specialists in European decorative arts of the Renaissance and later periods.