Silver Inkstand, with Hallmarks, Madrid, Spain, 1779

About the Item

With hallmarks and property marks (AL). A tray of curved profiles is supported on four legs in the shape of plant elements. Fixed to it are four elements. These, and the bell, present a magnificent decoration based on flat gallons (shell shapes) turned on its body, base and lid. The set also has a "sandbox" (container to store salt or something similar to dry the ink) with a bell (used to call the servant or the person responsible for carrying written message), and three inkwells or dusters with a lid, all of which are attached by means of through screws. The profiles of the tray correspond to works of the period and style Charles III of Spain, while the jars show part of the movement that characterized the Rococo arts, introducing the clean lines that are common in Neoclassicism art. In the second half of the 18th century, with the accession of Charles III os Spain, Italian influences arrived at silverware once masters of this country had settled down, either as silversmiths or, in many cases, also as broncists. At the end of the century there is also an abandonment of the Rococo shapes and decoration in favor of the neoclassical style, whose particularities are appreciated in this piece. These gilded forms come from decorations based on the ancient Roman art on which this second artistic style was based, as do the plant elements. Madrid would set the standard in art for being the capital of the kingdom, and the continuous movement of pieces and the relative ease in the communications and transmissions of drawings and engravings make it difficult to distinguish particular styles and trends in many cases. Also, it is necessary to emphasize the great role in the improvement of the quality of the designs of the silverware that had the foundation of the School-Workshop by Antonio Martinez in 1778. This pieces has hallmarks (two that date and place the making of the set in Madrid in 1779, and the silversmith's one) and ownership markings (AL). Weight: 1850 gr. Size: 31 x 25 x 14 cms.

Dimensions:

Height: 5.52 in (14 cm)Width: 12.21 in (31 cm)Depth: 9.85 in (25 cm)

Style:

Neoclassical (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Silver

Place of Origin:

Spain

Period:

1770-1779

Date of Manufacture:

1779