Wierookvat 1714

This incense burner was made by Johannes van der Lely, likely in the Dutch Republic. Its primary material is silver, fashioned with a combination of casting, chasing, and engraving. Notice how the silversmith skillfully worked the malleable metal to achieve the vessel’s ornate floral decoration and lion-head embellishments. This would have involved an immense amount of labor, from the extraction of the silver ore to the fashioning of the object itself. The chasing, engraving, and casting techniques utilized demanded a high degree of craftsmanship and an intricate understanding of the material's properties, bending it to the artist's vision. These techniques, which have a long history in the decorative arts, speak to a broader social context of specialized labor and trade. By emphasizing the interplay of material, making, and cultural context, we appreciate the significance of the work, and move beyond traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.