Platter
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Pewter
Dimensions
1 1/2 × 13 1/2 in. (3.8 × 34.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Pewter
Culture
possibly Dutch
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1906
Accession Number
06.744
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant 17th-century pewter platter, measuring a slender 1 1/2 × 13 1/2 inches, hails from the European Sculpture and Decor Arts collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, through the Rogers Fund in 6. Crafted by an unknown artist, possibly Dutch, it exemplifies the refined metalwork of the period, where pewter—a durable alloy of tin and lead—was prized for its silvery sheen and affordability compared to silver. The platter's defining feature is its engraved coat of arms, a of heraldic design that signified family lineage, status, and prestige among Europe's burgeoning merchant class....