A rare Tudor silver and parcel-gilt mounted 'Malling' jug, unmarked, circa 1550

globular with cylindrical neck and dark iridescent glaze, the rim finely chased with a narrow band of double-headed eagles between strap-work scrolls, the slightly domed cover chased with a band of stiff-leaf scrolls around a central elaborate merchants mark, within an escutcheon-shaped panel flanked by the initials K.C, the entwined openwork poppy-head thumbpiece terminating with an acanthus leaf applied to the pottery handle

With Winifred Williams, Eastbourne, 16th July 1965.

Sotheby's, London, 29th June 1965, Lot 65.

 

The body with minor scattered surface scratching, more typical loss of glaze to edges of handle. The mounts with some loss of gilding in places. Split (approximately 4-5cm long) running around curve of central panel to cover. The rim is a little mishapen and compressed in places with a couple of minute holes and splits. Condition generally in accordance with age.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The term 'Malling' comes from the discovery of a jug of this type at West Malling church in Kent, where it had been used as an altar flagon. It was wrongly assumed until recent scientific and archaeological research that such vessels were of English origin. They are now thought to have been manufactured in the Low Countries, predominantly by the Dutch, for the London market, where they were mounted. These were by no means considered 'luxury' goods, however, and were overshadowed by the fragile and expensive coloured glass imports from Venice as well as Iznic and majolica pottery from Turkey and northern Italy respectively.

Although the present example bears no hallmark, the engraved merchant's mark to the centre of the cover indicates the ownership of this piece to a non-armigerous trader. The flanking initials have not been identified but the style of the merchant's mark itself is similar to those used by Wool-staplers and Merchant Adventurers.

Although there are very few similar examples documented carrying this particular leaden-glaze and of this early period, there are three recorded which share certain similarities. The first can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Accession No:49.475) of similar squat baluster form and with an almost identical finely chased narrow banded mount and poppy-head thumb-piece. However, the mottled glaze ranges in colour from a medium to a dark cobalt with traces of manganese compared to the browny-black, slightly iridescent glaze of the present example. Another similar example can be found in The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (Object No. M.5-1954), again of similar squat bulbous form this time with a treacly-brown glaze and similar styled thumb-piece. The third example can be found from The Rous Lench Collection, Volume One, Sotheby's, London 1986, Lot 70 and perhaps bears most resemblance it terms of glaze and form. This particular example was not considered of the "Malling' type as it does not have 'the low-fired body nor the tin glaze of that class of wares" but acted as "the bridge between the medieval (Cistercian) potteries and the slipware maker's of the seventeenth century". This example sold for £25,000.