posted 08-10-2004 12:11 PM            

The wide, shallow bowl measures 4 3/4" across at its rim, 2 3/4" across the base, and is 2 inches high. It is made of a single piece of turned burr maple with a hammered silver mount encasing its interior and rim (extending approx 1/2" down the exterior in a plain, cove-molded band). The base is also encased in a silver mount, this one more elaborate, with a row of punched dots around the foot and an ornate decorative band extending up the lower body, resembling a row of stylized crowns. This decoration appears chased, not punched. The bottom center of the wooden base has been left exposed. Both mounts are made of rather thick silver.

There are, as usual with mazers, no hallmarks. (A rare, "late" - i.e, 1540s - hallmarked example sold a couple of years ago for over 200,000 pounds at auction.)

Judging from its surfaces and patina, the bowl is obviously handmade and has considerable age. I've owned 16th/17th-century silver before, and this patina is not dissimilar (but it could also simply be a well-worn piece from the 18th century).

A couple of peculiarities of construction: first, the lower mount is held in place by three straight silver pins (again, clearly handmade) driven through the metal and into the wood. Second, there is a soldered joint inside the bowl running all the way around the lower part of the wall (this should be visible in the pics). I.e., the silver covering the walls of the interior and that covering the bottom are two separate pieces.

As you can see in one of the photos, there is a deep age crack to the wood on one side, which might explain why the extra interior covering was added (if indeed that's what happened). The use of burr maple is typical of mazers.

I'm just beginning to research this, and would appreciate any suggestions, especially on reference books (or experts) I might consult. Mazers are so rare that it's hard to find well-illustrated examples. They were produced over several centuries, mostly by local vernacular makers, which means there is considerable variation in form. And many, if not most, of the surviving ones were modified and repaired over the later centuries, which may certainly be the case with mine (if that's what it is). It all adds up to a nice juicy research puzzle.

posted 08-10-2004 03:10 PM            

From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston:

England, (London), about 1500–25, with later alterations
Burl maple with silver and silver-gilt mounts
H: 6 cm (2 3/8 in.); Diameter (of rim): 17.9 cm (7 1/16 in.)

From the Victoria & Albert Museum:

Date: 1725
Techniques: Silver and birchwood, painted
Place: Denmark (possibly) Norway (possibly)
Dimensions: Diameter 11.10 cm
Wooden mazer bowls were made for use as drinking vessels across much of medieval northern Europe and continued to be valued in Scandinavia as an example of a traditional native form. The engraved inscription on the silver mount of this mazer translates as ‘So drink on Christmas Eve, that thou forget not in the morning, to make thy offering in the Lord's House' and is dated 1725. The wooden bowl, which may be earlier in date, is painted with flowers on the inside.

From the British Museum:

Mazer and cover
Medieval, 15th century AD
From Flanders (modern Belgium)
Diameter: 14.5 cm (mazer)
Diameter: 15.9 cm (cover)
Diameter: 19.2 cm (case)
With the shields of Flanders and Ghistelles combined

A mazer is a drinking bowl made of wood. Although used principally by those unable to afford expensive utensils, its use by the wealthy was not unknown. This example has been suitably embellished with metal mounts and enameled decoration.

From Sotheby's:

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posted 08-12-2004 07:24 PM            

Any thoughts on where I might begin to look this up?