Искусства и ремесла Средневековья

Gold and Silver

35

About that time it may Ье said that the last goldsmith of tlie old school was Claude Ballin, whilc the first jeweller, in the modern acceptation of the word, was Pierre de Montarsy. Silvcr has always been selected for the better house­ hold utensils, not опlу on account of its beauty, but also because of its ductility, which is dfsiraЫe in making Iargcr vcssels; its value, too, is Icss than tЬat of gold, so that articles ,vl1ich would Ье quite out of tЬе reach of most l10uscholders, if made in gold, bccome very avail­ aЫc in silver. Silver is pnrticularly adapted to daily use, for the necessary ,vashing ашl polishing which it receives kecps it in good condition, and thcrc is no danger from poison through corrosion, as ,vith copper and brass. In thc шiddle ages the customary picces of plate in English homcs ,vere basins, bottles, bowls, candlesticks, sauccpans, jugs, dishes, c,ve1·s and flagons, and chafing­ dishes for warming the hands, which ,vere undouЬtedly needed, wl1en we rernember ho,v intense the cold must have becn in tlюse high, barc, ill-ventilated halls ! There we1·e also large cups called hanaps, smaller cups, plates, and poпingcrs, salt-cellars, spoons, and salvcгs. Foгks were of much later datc. There аге гecords of several siiver basins in the Register of John of Gaunt, and also in t.he Invent01·y of Lord Lislc: one being "а basin and е,vег with arms " and another, "а shaving basin." John of Gaunt also owned " а silver bowl for the kitcЬen." If the medireval house­ hold lacked comforts, it could teach us lessons in luxury