Ewer
- Gallery: Room 2a
- Culture: Antwerp
- Made in: Antwerp (city)
- Date: 1545-1550 (circa)
- Object type: ewer
- Materials: silver
- Museum number: WB.89
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This silver ewer was crafted in Antwerp around 1545–1550. You'll notice its rich, embossed decoration featuring classical themes. The spout is shaped like a goat’s head, supported by a draped female figure standing on the mask of Pan. Look closely at the handle—its flat band is formed by a figure of Pan who stands on a female mask and ends in a goat-like monster. The oviform (egg-shaped) body is ornamented with strapwork, terminal figures, and pairs of mythological creatures.
Two circular medallions feature Neptune and Amphitrite fully draped. The body and foot are covered with floral scrolls, birds, and more detailed reliefs. There are maker’s and assay marks, including a hand holding three ears of corn on the neck and Antwerp-related stamps on the foot.
Once part of a noble family collection in Liège before being acquired by Baron Rothschild, this ewer is a striking example of 16th-century Flemish craftsmanship and imagery drawn from classical mythology.
See it in person
Ewer is on display in Room 2a at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
New, in beta. British Museum support has just launched and is still improving: over 1,000 objects so far, with more added all the time.
