A silver Parrot Trophy of the Gerdingen-Niestat Guild

South Netherlandish | Possibly Maaseik
Renaissance | First quarter of the 17th Century | Dated 1604

Silver | Parcel-gilt
Maker’s mark ‘Lily in shield with crown’
H. 13.5 cm. W. 18.7 cm. (parrot)
H. 28.5 cm. (total length including chains)

 


PROVENANCE
Private collection | Belgium

 


CATALOGUE NOTE
Thnis impressive Parrot Trophy is inscribed ‘DESEN VOEGHEL HOERRET TOT GERDINGEN ONDE NIESTAT WEGHT XVI Loet ANNO 1604’. On original chain with two medallions, a gilded one depiction the Adoration of the Shepherds and an oval one with Our Lady of Halle, inscribed ‘HAL’. Together with eleven silver shields dating from 1640-1778: seven shields from ‘Kings’ and four from ‘Emperors’ of the Guild, and a star-shaped pendant and a death token:

  1. 1640 – R.D.D. Ioannes Mewen Pastor in Gerdigen Dono Dedit Ao 1640
  2. 1646 – Peter Henricks Scholtis der Heerlickheiden Gerdingen Ende Niustatt, 1646
  3. 1646 – Leonard Cloeten vererden desen schilt met die ketten Anno 1646
  4. 1658 – Dirick Gors Keijser van de Schutterie tot Gierdingen Ao. 1658
  5. 1660 – frans Coenen Keijser der Schutterie tot Gierdingen 1660
  6. 1664 – Ian Corsten Keijser der Schutterie tot Gierdingen 1664
  7. 1699 – WILLEM VOS ALIAS COPPEN CEISER DER SCHUTTERIE GERINGEN 1699.
  8. 1762 – Death token of Eerw. HEER Henricus Grevingh, pastoor inde Roomse Kerk de Pool
  9. 1767 – AVDW 1767
  10. 1773 – MIJNHEER I IAECKEN 1773
  11. 1773 – NICOLAUS WELTERS 1773
  12. 1773 – THOMAS VAN EYNDT PASTOR IN GERDINGEN 1773
  13. 1778 – Star-shaped pendant, Soet Verhevght, Anno 1778

 

Of these shields, three were made by the Maaseiker silversmith Fredericus Malders (nr. 4, 5 and 6), two shields with maker’s mark ‘PM‘ monogram (no. 2 and 3), a sign that could be read as ‘PR‘ (nr. 1), maker’s mark ‘LD‘ in oval contour (nr. 7) and a sign ‘FA‘ (nr. 9).