{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O108454"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O108454/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BA1542/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BA1542/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BA1542","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP6498","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O108454","accessionNumber":"LOAN:ST MARY STRAND.1","objectType":"Flagon","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The flagon is part of a large set of altar plate that Elinor James, the widow of a London printer, gave to St Benet Paul’s Wharf in 1711. After her death in 1719, the set was transferred to the church of St Mary-le-Strand.\r\n\r\nElinor James was a champion of the Church of England. Described by a contemporary as a ‘mixture of benevolence and madness’, she was intolerant of Roman Catholics and dissenters alike. In 1689 she was committed to Newgate Prison for libel on account of her book The Vindication of the Church of England. Her obsessive piety is reflected in the inscription on the flagon: ‘This is through providence given to St Bennet Doctors Commons for what reason God knoweth best by me Elinor James 1711’. \r\n\r\nOther items in the set included a basin, dishes, salvers, cups, candlesticks and altar and pulpit cloths. The flagon would have been used to serve communion wine.","physicalDescription":"Silver-gilt, plain cylindrical body (one of a pair), with engraved inscription and cast decoration.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Ley, Timothy","id":"A14028"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver-gilt","id":"x37998"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"raising","id":"AAT237068"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gilded silver","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006BA1542","2006AP6498"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"83","id":"THES49711"},"free":"","case":"CA2A","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Flagon","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1711-1712","earliest":"1711-05-29","latest":"1712-05-28"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Lent by the Rector and Churchwardens of St. Mary-le-Strand with St. Clement Danes, Westminster, London","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"20.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"11.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"date letter for 1711 and maker's mark LE with two cinquefoils and seven pellets in a circular stamp.\r\nInscribed on the lid 'This is through providence given to St. Bennet Doctors Commons for what reason God knoweth best by me Elinor James 1711'\r\nInscribed on the barrel 'To the Immortall and Invisible God, let all praise and glory be given to him that lives in all things and yet not anything can comprehend him except his divine Majestie reveals himself by inspiration. O that I might obtaine favour in thy sight to accept my offerings and to sanctifie them that they may be instruementall to thy glory. Sanctifie this vessel and let thy blessing come upon them that make use of it and pardon the sins of thy people and be reconcild to them that they may receive ye blessing of thy blessed Sacrament, bless all thy people I beseech thee but more especially this congregation that through thy providence has thought fit to bestow this gift upon them; for it was not I that gave it for I had wholly resigned up to the Almightys pleasure being the church was not built where I should be buried which I thought to give it to, so I did not know where to bestow it, so I verily think it was Gods will to have it here though I was much blamed for it and has been promised great things if I would remove it, but I would not do anything to get a kingdom or loose a kingdom against Gods will. O that they may bring it forth the fruits of righteousness and live to all Eternity, the Lord grant it. Amen Elinor James.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Given by Elinor James to S. Bennet Paul's Wharf and transferred to St. Mary le Strand after her death.\n\nHistorical significance: Gifts of Elinor James\r\nThis plate comes from a larger set given by Elinor James in 1711. She was the widow of a London printer. Described by a contemporary as a ‘mixture of benevolence and madness’, she was an eccentric champion of the Church of England, intolerant of Roman Catholics and dissenters alike. In 1689 Elinor was committed to Newgate Prison for libel on account of her book The Vindication of the Church of England. The exceptionally long inscriptions on these objects reflect her obsessive piety.","historicalContext":"Gifts to the Church\r\nGifts were the most important source of English church plate in the 17th century. The donor was usually a prominent member of the community, which in country parishes often meant the local landowner. But gifts came from other sources too. Many were given by women, showing their active involvement with the church. Churchwardens also took pride in commissioning new silver and often contributed to the cost. Occasionally, gifts like Lord Hertford’s chalice and flagon were made to win support for a political cause. \r\n\r\nNot all of these gifts were new. Old-fashioned domestic plate, often richly decorated with secular ornament, was welcomed and used for the service of communion or the collection of alms.\r\n\r\nPart of a set of silver-gilt  altar plate consisting of two flagons, and a cup and paten presented by Elinor James with a crimson velvet altar cloth embroidered in silver with the sacred monogram 'IHS'","briefDescription":"Silver-gilt, London hallmarks for 1711-12, mark of Timothy Ley","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Edwin Freshfield, <u>The Communion Plate of the Parish Churches in the County of London</u>, London: Rixon and Arnold, 1895."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Silver and the Church. The 1400th anniversary of the Diocese of London</u>. An exhibition held at Goldsmiths' Hall, London, 19 April - 15 May 2004, curated by Timothy Schroder. <u>Silver Studies: Special Issue, no. 1</u> (The Silver Society: 2004), ISBN 0954914406; reprinted in <u>Church Plate in England</u>. Two exhibitions held at Goldsmiths' Hall, London, curated by Timothy Schroder: <u>Treasures of the English Church: A Thousand years of sacred gold and silver 800 - 2000</u> (2008); <u>Silver and the Church. The 1400th anniversary of the Diocese of London</u> (2004), in: <u>Silver Studies. The Journal of the Silver Society</u>, Special Issue, 24 (2009)."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Flagon\r\nThe flagon is part of a large set of altar plate that Elinor James, the widow of a London printer, gave to St Benet Paul’s Wharf in 1711. After her death in 1719, the set was transferred to the church of St Mary-le-Strand.\r\n\r\nElinor James was a champion of the Church of England. Described by a contemporary as a ‘mixture of benevolence and madness’, she was intolerant of Roman Catholics and dissenters alike. In 1689 she was committed to Newgate Prison for libel on account of her book The Vindication of the Church of England. Her obsessive piety is reflected in the inscription on the flagon: ‘This is through providence given to St Bennet Doctors Commons for what reason God knoweth best by me Elinor James 1711’. \r\n\r\nOther items in the set included a basin, dishes, salvers, cups, candlesticks and altar and pulpit cloths. The flagon would have been used to serve communion wine.\r\n\r\nLondon, England, 1711–2; by Timothy Ley\r\n(active 1681–1712); one of a pair. Silver gilt\r\nLent by Rector and Churchwardens of St Mary-le-\r\nStrand with St Clement Danes","date":{"text":"22/11/2005","earliest":"2005-11-22","latest":"2005-11-22"}}],"partNumbers":["LOAN:ST MARY STRAND.1"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:ST MARY STRAND","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-14","recordCreationDate":"2005-01-10","availableToBook":false}}