A Belgian silver tray, probably Antwerp, 1634-1635, marker’s mark unknown

Galerie Mosane, 9 December 1999, lot 242

Axel Vervoordt, Antwerp.

Ghent, Chefs d’œuvres d’orfèvrerie de collections privées, 19 April-30 June 1985, n°17

We would like to thank Ms. Nanette Claessens-Peré, author of the book Antwerpse goud- en zilvermerken 1456-1798, 2023, for her assistance in attributing the hallmarks.

This twelve-lobed dish has been known to collectors of Antwerp silver for decades; notably, it was featured in the exhibition Ghent: Masterpieces of Goldsmithing from Private Collections (April 19–June 30, 1985). However, its attribution to Antwerp remains probable rather than certain, as only part of the city hallmark is legible.

Thanks to Ms. Claessens-Peré’s work, the dating of this dish has been revised. For many years, it was dated to 1627–1628 based on the letter 'R', but a study of the date letter suggests it is more likely a 'B', corresponding to the year 1634–1635.

Star-shaped dishes are characteristic of the Low Countries—encompassing both the United Provinces and the Spanish Netherlands—with examples bearing hallmarks from Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Antwerp. They often served a religious function, as is the case with this dish; the inscription refers to King David’s Psalm 26:6, and the coat of arms may belong to a religious order. Several other Antwerp dishes are recorded, such as an eight-lobed dish dated 1615–1616 held in a private collection, which is illustrated in P. Baudouin, A-M. Claessens-Peré, and P. Huvenne, Antwerps Huiszilver uit de 17e en 18e eeuw, Rotterdam, 1988.p 54, no. 8, featuring engraved decoration and a coat of arms in the center, or another dish dated 1641–1642 held at the Sint-Trudokerk in Meerhout. However, our dish is unique because it is, to date, the only one with twelve lobes, whereas all other known examples have only eight.

Another eight-lobed dish—unmarked but originating from the same region and featuring magnificent engraved scenes from the Old Testament—was sold in The Manny Davidson Collection: A Life in Treasures and Benevolence, Sotheby’s Paris, 5 November 2025, lot 35.