Rare Brass Kettle. Decoration Of Saint éloi. 18th Century.

Flat-bottomed tapered body, assembled by crenellated brazing. Fitted cover, with trigger guard. Curved bottle. Dangling handle on offset ears. On one side: engraved and embossed decoration of wings and knotted floral stems. The other side presents a rare decoration, hitherto unpublished, with in a cartouche surrounded by palm leaves, on the right two different hammers separated by a graduated ruler, on the left a mitred bishop holding his episcopal crosier in one hand, and on the other, a hammer. Obviously, it is about St ÉLOI, skilful goldsmith, bishop of NOYON in 640, and faithful treasurer of king DAGOBERT. Not only famous for a guardhouse song, St ÉLOI enjoys above all the status of patron saint of goldsmiths, but also of blacksmiths, blacksmiths, and other craftsmen working with metals: coppersmiths, boilermakers... The cartouche is flanked to the right of the god HERMES wearing the winged petasus and wearing the chlamys. He holds the caduceus in one hand and brandishes a snake in the other. On the other hand, here, he keeps his feet bare, whereas in his stories, HOMER makes him wear golden sandals. Later poets shod him with heels, like the MERCURY of the Latins. This god, among others, initiator of the sciences and the arts, makes here by his presence, an allusion to the transmutation of metals attributed to HERMES TRISMEGISTE, the THOT of the Egyptians, first of the alchemists. To the left of the cartouche, a female character, largely bareheaded and rolled up, bandits a snake with one hand and with the other an open purse emptying of its contents. This gesture is sometimes found in certain representations of HERMÈS, which are moreover multiple. One can see there an allusion to the establishment in PARIS, by St ÉLOI, of a monastery of girls which gradually lost its reputation for chastity and holiness. The scandal of their lax morals, attracted on the boarders, the ecclesiastical censures and their expulsion. Undeniably, the artist-engraver had a good knowledge of the life of St ÉLOI and of Greek mythology. However, more than the presence of HERMES, next to St ÉLOI, that of HÉPHAÏSTOS, the blacksmith god, should normally have prevailed. As for the use of this kettle with its unique decor, everything suggests its presence during ceremonies or community gatherings of coppersmiths. Height at the lid: 18.5 cm. Diameter: 20cm. Period: 18th century. Very good condition. See additional information on: http://antiquites-lauginie.fr Free shipping by COLISSIMO for metropolitan France.