{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O91742"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O91742/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O91742","accessionNumber":"M.510:23-1956","objectType":"Plaque","titles":[{"title":"The Descent into Hell","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This small plaque depicting the descent into Hell may have adorned a processional cross. Series of silver plaques often with a related theme, such as scenes from the life of Christ, were commonly used by goldsmiths to decorate the surfaces of larger church objects. \r\n\r\nThe plaque is one of three from the same source. The others depict St John and the descent of Christ into hell after his death. They were possibly made by Enrique de Arfe, one of the most successful Renaissance goldsmiths in Spain, or by a goldsmith associated with his workshop. De Arfe trained in Cologne in Germany but spent much of his career on commissions for monumental church silver in Spanish cathedrals.\r\n\r\nFor the other plaques in this series, see M.510:21-1956 and M.510:22-1956.","physicalDescription":"Plaque, round, raised from sheet metal and finely chased with a depiction of The Descent into Hell, the plaque from the 5th of 5 series from a Custodia and a processional cross.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Enrique de Arfe","id":"A10765"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"possibly"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, parcel-gilt","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"69 (VA)","id":"THES49729"},"free":"","case":"26","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Plaque","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Spain","id":"x29170"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1530","earliest":"1525-01-01","latest":"1534-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"6.90","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"0.60","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Unmarked","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Acquisition RF: 55/4478A\nDr WL Hildburgh FSA Bequest\n\n\n(From a set of 23 plaques from a Custodia and a processional cross. )\nFrom The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver 1400-1665, Charles Oman, HMSO, 1968, pp 11-13:  The plaques were acquired by Dr Hildburgh after the dispersal of the Ole Olsen Collection (Copenhagen, 4-8 March 1953, Lot 293). They were mounted upon an ebonised casket, plaques 1-12 being fitted into niches round the sides, the remainder decorating the lid. The casket was further adorned with pierced silver strips and plaques in the Renaissance style and was supported on 4 feet in the form of double-bodoed lions holding sceptres.’ \r\n\nThe casket was found to be modern when examined on acquisition by the Museum. ‘... The composition of plaques 1-20 was not quite the same as that of 21-23 but all were of old silver... it was concluded that they were probably made in about 1530 by an artist working under the German influence in Spain. The possibility that they were German was discarded since nothing similar appears to be known in that country ... The nearest parallels were found to be the plaques decorating the hexagonal base of the Custodia by Enrique de Arfe at Cordova Cathedral.\r\n\nThe plaques 21-23 (fourth and fifth series) depicting the Virgin and St. John and the Descent into Hell, which all have flat backs, appear more appropriate for a processional cross. In this connection it is worth noting that Cordova Cathedral owns a processional cross by Enrique de Arfe as well as a Custodia.\n\r\n... The conclusions are that the plaques are part of a Custodia and of a processional cross and because of the incompleteness of their iconographical schemes, there must have been more of them and that they probably derive from the same Spanish treasury and were mounted up by an ingenious dealer for a rich client in the second half of the last [19th] century.’","historicalContext":"The Spanish Church\r\nThe Catholic church dominated public and private life in Spain. Money and labour were lavished on religious art and images played a central role in daily worship. To ensure that goldsmiths focused on work for the crown and the church, the authorities brought in a series of sumptuary laws that limited the secular display of gems and precious metals. \r\n\r\nBy 1550 the silver mines in Peru and Mexico were generating enormous wealth for Spain and feeding the traditional taste for massive silver forms. They included the custodia, a towering architectural canopy that was unique to Spain. It was paraded through parishes during the Corpus Christi festival to display the Sacred Host (consecrated bread). The custodia embodied many characteristics of Spanish church plate. It was sculptural, highly visible and richly imaginative in design. \r\n\r\nWith the Counter Reformation, Spain became a triumphant defender of a revitalised Catholic faith. Silver altar vessels and entire altars, processional crosses, custodias and sanctuary lamps frequently appeared in goldsmiths' contracts.","briefDescription":"Silver, parcel-gilt, Spain, ca.1530, possibly by Enrique de Arfe","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver 1400-1665, Charles Oman, HMSO, 1968"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"The Harrowing of Hell","id":"V107"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Silver Gallery:\nWhen these plaques were bequeathed to the V&A in 1956, they were attached to an ebonised wooden casket decorated in the Renaissance taste. This casket was probably made in the 19th century by an ingenious dealer to attract a rich collector. The style and shape of the plaques, depicting scenes from the life of Christ, is similar to those found on custodias (used to display communion wafers) and on processional crosses. The high quality of the work suggests a skilled Spanish silversmith, perhaps influenced by designs from Germany.","date":{"text":"26/11/2002","earliest":"2002-11-26","latest":"2002-11-26"}},{"text":"SIX PLAQUES \r\n\r\nThe curved plaques depict the four Evangelists with their identifying symbols: the angel of St Matthew, the winged lion of St Mark, the ox of St Luke and the eagle of St John. They were probably decorative fragments from a custodia. The flat plaques may have adorned a processional cross and show St John and the Virgin Mary, both in mourning for the death of Christ. The maker is possibly Enrique de Arfe, a native of Cologne who settled in Léon and founded one of Spain's most outstanding goldsmithing families, renowned for making massive custodia.\r\n\r\nSpain, about 1530, possibly by Enrique de Arfe\r\nSilver, parcel-gilt \r\nW.L. Hildburgh Bequest\r\nMuseum nos. M.510:17-22-1956","date":{"text":"22/11/2005","earliest":"2005-11-22","latest":"2005-11-22"}}],"partNumbers":["M.510:23-1956"],"accessionNumberNum":"510","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1956,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-09","availableToBook":false}}