Nef (metalwork)

Nef (metalwork)
The Burghley Nef, silver-gilt (with sections ungilded), and nautilus shell, 1527-1528, France, V&A Museum
Calendar miniature for January from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

A nef is an extravagant table ornament and container of precious metals used in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, made in the shape of a ship - nef was an alternative term in French for a carrack. If not just used for decoration, it could hold salt or spices, the latter being very expensive in the Middle Ages, or cutlery, or even napkins. The large nef in the well-known calendar miniature for January from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is being used to hold, and perhaps wash, gilt dishes from the table service.[1] Nefs are recorded in France as early as 1239,[2] initially just consisting of the hull, and perhaps initially used to drink from; by the 15th century the most elaborate had masts, sails and even crew, and had become too crowded with such details to be used as containers for anything. The so-called Mechanical Galleon in the British Museum is a late 16th century German nef which was also a clock and automaton, with moving figures and music.

A nef was usually made of silver, silver-gilt or gold, often further embellished with enamel and jewels. A nautilus shell often formed the hull of the ship, as in the Burghley Nef illustrated. Some nefs had wheels to allow them to be rolled from one end of the table to the other, but most had legs or pedestals. The nef was placed in front of the most important person at table as a mark of their status.

The equivalent in religious plate is a navicula, Latin for small ship, and also a term in English for a boat-shaped incense-holder.[3]

Contents

Notes

  1. ^ Campbell, Gordon. The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts, Volume 1, p. 412, Oxford University Press US, 2006, ISBN 0195189485, 9780195189483
  2. ^ Lightbown, 3
  3. ^ OED, "Navicula. 3"

References

  • Lightbown, R. W. Secular Goldsmith’s Work in Medieval France: A History. London: Society of Antiquaries of London, 1978.
  • Steele, Philip (1995). Castles. New York: Kingfisher. p. 36. ISBN 1-85697-547-9. 

Further reading

  • Oman, Charles. Medieval Silver Nefs. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1963.
  • Truman, Charles. “Ships on Board.” Country Life vol. 183, no. 38 (1989): 218-221.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nef — or NEF can refer to: Contents 1 Historical 2 People 3 Places 4 …   Wikipedia

  • Islamic arts — Visual, literary, and performing arts of the populations that adopted Islam from the 7th century. Islamic visual arts are decorative, colourful, and, in religious art, nonrepresentational; the characteristic Islamic decoration is the arabesque.… …   Universalium

  • Victoria and Albert Museum — Coordinates: 51°29′48″N 0°10′19″W / 51.496667°N 0.171944°W / 51.496667; 0.171944 …   Wikipedia

  • Mining and metallurgy in medieval Europe — The Middle Ages in Europe cover the time span from the 5th c. AD, marked by the decay of the Roman Empire, to the 16th c. AD, when social and economic factors shifted Europe towards the Modern Era. During the millennium between classical… …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Gold Cup — The Royal Gold Cup, 23.6 cm high, 17.8 cm across at its widest point; weight 1.935 kg, British Museum. Saint Agnes appears to her friends in a vision. The Royal Gold Cup or Saint Agnes Cup is a solid gold covered cup lavishly decorated with… …   Wikipedia

  • Europe, history of — Introduction       history of European peoples and cultures from prehistoric times to the present. Europe is a more ambiguous term than most geographic expressions. Its etymology is doubtful, as is the physical extent of the area it designates.… …   Universalium

  • Switzerland — /swit seuhr leuhnd/, n. a republic in central Europe. 7,248,984; 15,944 sq. mi. (41,294 sq. km). Cap.: Bern. French, Suisse. German, Schweiz. Italian, Svizzera. Latin, Helvetia. * * * Switzerland Introduction Switzerland Background: Switzerland s …   Universalium

  • Coupe de sainte Agnès — ██████████75  …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”