Judith with the head of Holofernes

WB.42     1600–1630 • Painted enamel on copper • tazza

Judith freed the Jewish people from the tyrant Holofernes.

Curator's Description

Painted Limoges enamel tazza; copper; deep bowl supported on a baluster stem above a bell-shaped foot; Judith with Holofernes' head; 3 soldiers and his trunk; on baluster: Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite/Venus?; on foot: Joseph and Potiphar's wife; painted in semi-opaque enamels over a white preparation, translucent enamel over coloured foils and white grisaille with details produced by enlevage and gilded; inside of foot blue; signed; inscribed.

This object was collected by Anselm von Rothschild and bequeathed to the British Museum by Ferdinand Anselm Rothschild.

How big is it?

16.4 cm wide, 13 cm high, 16.4 cm deep, and it weighs 269g

Detailed Curatorial Notes

Provenance: Baron Anselm von Rothschild, Vienna, by 1866 (cat no. 8), by inheritance to his son Baron Ferdinand Rothschild (d. 1898).

Bibliography

  • Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 42
  • O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.42.
  • References

    1. Read 1902: Read, Charles Hercules, The Waddesdon Bequest. Catalogue of the Works of Art Bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898, London, BMP, 1902
    2. Dalton 1927: Dalton, Ormonde Maddock, The Waddesdon Bequest : jewels, plate, and other works of art bequeathed by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild., London, BMP, 1927
    3. Scrase handlist: Scrase handlist

Go to the Collection Online page for this object?