Terms and conditions of use
Footed bowl
(early 16th century)
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1871
- Gallery location
- Not on display
About this work
This early sixteenth-century footed bowl imitates contemporary metalwork forms in silver and pewter and would likely have been used for the serving of fruit, as depicted in paintings of the period. The bowl and the foot were initially formed in a mould to produce the ribbed effect, then blown and worked with jacks (metal blades with sprung handles) to create their final forms. The bowl’s ribs were slightly twisted in the blowing process to produce the angled effect. The brilliant sapphire-blue glass is a feature of sixteenth-century Venetian works and was often trailed decoratively to offset the clear cristallo body.
Artwork Details
Purchased, 1871
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited