Alms dish - Brass - 17th century

Description: 17th-century brass bowl

Diameter: 39.5 cm
Material: driven and hammered brass
Dating: 17th century (c. 1600–1680)

Very fine and well-made 17th-century bowl in heavy brass.
The bowl features a wide, slightly raised rim and a centrally domed medallion with richly chased leaf-and-vine motifs in relief.

Notable features:

The punched edge decoration with repeating floral/rosette motifs
The deeply chased central rosette with Baroque foliate scrolls
The evident handcraft (hammer marks visible on the reverse)
Beautiful warm patina with natural signs of age

This type of bowl was used in the 17th century as:

ornamental bowl
display centerpiece on a table or sideboard
sometimes as a baptismal bowl or ecclesiastical object

The quality of the chasing and finishing points to an artisanal workshop with experience in decorative brasswork.

Origin

Based on form, decoration and technique, the bowl is very likely from the Southern Netherlands (Flanders/Brabant) or possibly Northern France.
This type of punched edge with repetitive floral decoration and a chased central rosette is common in the Low Countries in the 17th century.

Condition

Beautiful authentic patina
No modern alterations visible
Normal signs of wear consistent with age
Rim with slight distortion (typical of hand-forged work)