{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O108933"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O108933/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AA8916/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AA8916/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AA8916","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O108933","accessionNumber":"LOAN:ORFORDPCC.1-2005","objectType":"Ewer","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The ewer was commissioned by Francis, Earl of Hertford as a container for communion wine, with a communion cup, from the Birmingham manufacturers Boulton and Fothergill as a gift to the united parishes of Sudborne and Orford. Lord Hertford represented orford as a 'Rotten Borough' in Parliament and so the gift was calculated to win political support.","physicalDescription":"Neo-classical vase shape with high looped handle, gadrooned and fluted base","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Matthew Boulton & John Fothergill","id":"AUTH347212"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"raising","id":"AAT237068"},{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, raised and engraved","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[{"text":"Neoclassical","id":"AAT21477"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AA8916"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"83","id":"THES49711"},"free":"","case":"CA2A","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Flagon","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Birmingham","id":"x28748"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1773-1774","earliest":"1773-05-29","latest":"1774-05-28"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"LOAN:ORFORDPCC.2-2005","id":"O108923"},"association":"Set"}],"creditLine":"Lent by the Vicar and Churchwardens of St. Bartholomew's, Orford, Suffolk","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"42.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"36","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"including spout","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"18","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum -  including handle","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of the body","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"diam of the foot","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Engraved under the foot 'Given by the Earl of Hertford to the United Parishes of Sudborne and Orford","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":"The ewer was commissioned by Francis, Earl of Hertford with a matching communion cup from the Birmingham manufacturers Boulton and Fothergill and given to the united parishes of Sudborne and Orford in Suffolk.\r\n\r\nClassical Ideal Exhibition RF.2009/1012\n\nHistorical significance: The gift was calculated to win political support.","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\nThe donor, Lord Hertford, was Lord Chamberlain and represented Orford as a 'Rotten Borough' in Parliament.","briefDescription":"Ewer, silver, Birmingham hallmarks for 1773-4, mark of Matthew Boulton & John Fothergill.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Attribution note: To keep the cost of the order down, the patron stipulated that it should be 'as light as the nature of the work would possibly admit'. Matthew Boulton charged £35 4s for the two pieces.","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Chalice and Flagon\r\nThis chalice was used in Protestant worship to serve the consecrated wine during Holy Communion. It was given to the united parishes of Sudborne and Orford, in Suffolk, by Lord Hertford, then Lord Chamberlain and the Member of Parliament for Orford. His gift was calculated to win political support, but to keep the cost down the order stipulated that the vessels should be ‘as light as the nature of the work would possibly admit’. There was a matching flagon and Matthew Boulton charged £35 4s for the two.\r\n\r\nThis flagon was used in Protestant worship to hold the communion wine. It was given to the united parishes of Sudborne and Orford, in Suffolk, by Lord Hertford, then Lord Chamberlain and the Member of Parliament for Orford. His gift was calculated to win political support, but to keep the cost down the order stipulated that the vessels should be ‘as light as the nature of the work would possibly admit’. There was a matching chalice and Matthew Boulton charged £35 4s for the two.\r\n\r\nBirmingham, England, 1773–4;\r\nby Matthew Boulton (1728–1809) and\r\nJohn Fothergill (died 1782)\r\nSilver\r\nLent by the Vicar and Churchwardens\r\nof St Bartholomew’s, Orford, Suffolk","date":{"text":"22/11/2005","earliest":"2005-11-22","latest":"2005-11-22"}}],"partNumbers":["LOAN:ORFORDPCC.1-2005"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:ORFORDPCC","accessionYear":2005,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-14","recordCreationDate":"2005-02-01","availableToBook":false}}