Treasure from the late 15th or early 16th century
This treasure comprises 32 pieces of partially-gilded silverware and was amassed over at least three generations of the Beschefer family:
- A covered ewer in silver made at the end of the 15th century,
- Two plain goblets on a chiselled base, made at the end of the 15th century,
- Two vase salt cellars, made around 1530,
- Three footed cups decorated in the Moorish style, made around the mid-16th century,
- Two lidded, nesting goblets engraved with Moorish bands, made around 1560,
- Twenty-one silver spoons, made from the late 15th to the early 16th century.
The centrepiece of the collection is the covered ewer in silver, stamped with the Paris hallmark and dated around 1480. In this exhibition, it is displayed alongside the two goblets, a cup, a salt cellar and two spoons.
We can trace the origins of the items through the goldsmiths’ hallmarks. A first group of nine pieces is the work of several Parisian goldsmiths. Then comes the ewer with the hallmark of goldsmith Pierre Anceau. Other pieces come from Châlons-en-Champagne, Reims and Strasbourg. This is the case of the two nesting goblets which are the work of Strasbourg goldsmith Dietrich Brey, and can be dated 1560 to 1567.
This treasure belonged to a comfortably well-off Protestant family in Châlons-en-Champagne (their name, Beschefer, is inscribed under the ewer). At the beginning of the Wars of Religion (1562 – 1598), the Beschefer family must have been driven out of the (Catholic) town along with other Huguenots in 1563. This was a time when violent clashes were occurring in north-west Lorraine, between Champagne and Luxembourg. They pitted Catholic Charles III, Duke of Lorraine against Protestant princes. After stopping several times between France and Lorraine, the fleeing owner finally decided to bury his treasure in Pouilly-sur-Meuse to protect it from the fighting raging in the surrounding area.
It was rediscovered in November 2006 when someone had work done in their garden. Given its significance, the ensemble was given National Treasure status. In 2009 it was acquired by the city of Nancy for the Lorrain Museum (thanks to state support, corporate sponsorship from CNP Assurances and contributions from the Lorraine Regional Council, the City of Nancy, and the Lorraine Historical Society).
“The Pouilly-sur-Meuse Treasure”, "National Treasure", was acquired for the Lorrain Museum, thanks to financial backing bringing together various partners:
CNP Assurances, the Ministry for Culture and Communication (Heritage Funds), the Regional Council of Lorraine, the Lorraine Historical Society and the Lorrain Museum and the City of Nancy.
1/ Covered ewer (with a twisted gadroon decoration)
Gilded, chiselled and engraved silver
Pierre Ensoult (goldsmith), Paris, 1466 - 1506
Nancy, Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine - Lorrain Museum,
Inv No. 2009.1.1
This recipient was used to serve water during meals. It is the finest item in the Treasure. The top of the lid is decorated with a medallion representing a narcissus embellished with a wreath of flowers on which traces of coloured enamel remain.
2/ Two nesting goblets (Satzbecher) with lid
Partially-gilded, chiselled and engraved silver
Dietrich Brey (goldsmith), Strasbourg, 1560 - 1567
Nancy, Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine - Lorrain Museum,
Inv No. 2009.1.2
These two nesting goblets, in a Germanic style, were doubtless intended for a couple. The grip topping the lid is decorated with an elegant plant pattern, echoing the Moorish bands surrounding the upper part of the goblet.
3/ Footed cup with Moorish decoration, with a small console for support
Partially-gilded, chiselled and engraved silver
Reims, mid-16th century
Nancy, Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine - Lorrain Museum,
Inv No. 2009.1.4
Baluster cup used for drinking wine. The Moorish patterns on the foot are inspired by Islamic art (this was widespread in Europe from the first half of the 16th century).
4/ Pair of spoons with pitched shaft, rattail attachments and oval bowls
Silver
Jean de Bénigne (goldsmith), Paris, 1527 - 1529
Nancy, Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine - Lorrain Museum,
Inv No. 2009.1.11 and 2009.1.12
Jean de Bénigne hallmark of a bear head under a crowned fleur-de-lis.
5/ Vase salt cellar
Partially-gilded, chiselled silver
1531 - 1532
Nancy, Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine - Lorrain Museum,
Inv No. 2009.1.9
The two oldest salt cellars of this kind preserved in France are part of the Pouilly-sur-Meuse Treasure! The second, which has been flattened and badly damaged, is not on display in the exhibition. In the 16th century, people helped themselves from the saleron (a small bowl on top of a “vase”), using the tip of a knife so as not to waste the salt.
FOR KIDS
Do you know what this object was used for in the Middle Ages?
It's a vase salt shaker.
The salt in the upper part of the ‘vase’ was used with the tip of a knife, because salt was very precious.