Trencher with quotation from The Governance of Virtue (1566) (one of a set)

Unknown

early 17th century · Sycamore wood, painted and gilded · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

At the end of a banquet it was customary to serve fruit or sweetmeats on the undecorated side of wood trenchers such as these. Afterwards, they were turned over and the moralizing quotations from the Bible read aloud to the assembled company. The gold effects were achieved with a yellow varnish over a layer of silver-leaf.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Sycamore wood, painted and gilded

Culture

British

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964