Rare 1850 British Elkington & Co. Pewter Electrotype: Venus Rosewater Basin, Temperantia

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Rare 19th Century British Elkington & Co Exhibition Pewter Electrotype: "Plateau" after the original Temperantia also known as the Venus … Read more Rare 19th Century British Elkington & Co Exhibition Pewter Electrotype: "Plateau" after the original Temperantia also known as the Venus Rosewater Basin, 18-inch Silver Gilt Pewter Wall Hanging

The design of Elkington's "Plateau" and the Temperance/Venus Rosewater Basin is a masterpiece of storytelling.

- Embelished with figures from classical mythology, this magnificent Mannerist plated "Plateau" Basin features a central boss cast figure of Temperance (Venus) holding a wine cup and ewer.

- Surrounded by four oval reserves each decorated with a reclining figure representing one of the four elements - air, water, earth, and fire.

- Eight oval reserves on the rim illustrate the Seven Liberal Arts – Grammar, Reason, Rhetoric, Music, Arithmetic, Geometry, and Astrology – the final reserve depicting Minerva, symbolizing Wisdom.

- Reserves within strapwork, with masks, demi-figures, winged horses and birds all part of the elaborate design

- The front of the basin is no less intricately constructed, with layers of metal filigree that provide immense depth and space for the perfect patina to emerge over time, which this piece has done.

- Diameter 19in, 46cm; boss diameter 4in, 10cm

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Another known "Plateau" electrotype by George Elkington, exactly like this one, is currently in the collections of the MET Museum in NYC and the Victoria. The original Briot "Temperantia" is in the permanent collection of the the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
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Historical Journey - Briot's "The Tempe rantia" (Temperantia) to Wimbledon's Venus Rosewater Basin

In 1585, the famous French medalist and die-cutter, Francois Briot, was commissioned to engrave a piece for the Duke of Wurttemburg. The piece was so fabulous that the Duke gave him the title "Gravure de Son Excellence." Briot's "The Tempe rantia" has since become one of the most reproduced pieces in the world, with several reproductions becoming nearly as famous as the original, which is now housed at the Louvre in Paris. The earliest reproduction to gain fame was made in the early 17th century by a modeller from Nuremberg, Germany named Caspar Enderlein. This reproduction was later exhibited at the V&A in London.

England, known for its master silversmiths and fine sterling silver production, eventually produced a master maker named George Elkington of Birmingham, England. Elkington came from a family of silversmiths and formed Elkington & Co in the early 19th century. Skilled in electrotyping, the Elkingtons supplied museums with reproductions of famous artworks for display purposes while the originals were kept in vaults. One such Elkington commission for the V&A was an electrotype of Endelein's Temper Rania. In 1849, Elkington purchased a plaster cast from German archaeologist Dr. Emil Braun, a patron of the V&A, to create the electrotype. Although Elkington went on to make and sell reproductions of the V&A electrotype in various forms of electroplated metals, one special commission became part of sports history with a tradition that continues to this day.

In 1864, Elkington was commissioned to create a trophy for the Wimbledon Ladies Singles Championship. He crafted a fine gilt bronze and silver presentation buffet dish named "Plateau, which was renamed The Venus Rosewater Basin and was first presented at Wimbledon in 1886. Since then, it has been presented to each winner with their names engraved. For sale here is one such very early electrotype made by Elkington & Co, as early as 1862, likely an exhibition piece. As can be seen from its reverse side, it has been cast from several molds and its parts welded together to recreate the original design. The hallmark is now very faded and hard to decipher, but can be found in books published by the Sheffield, England registry of marks. See less