Ewer : scenes from the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece
Invented in Limoges in the late 15th century, the technique of
painted enamel experienced remarkable growth there in the
following century. This delicate work consists of superimposing
layers of enamel (a silica-based product similar to glass) on a
copper plaque, working them with paintbrush and spatula like in
painting, or with a needle (to scratch away the surface and
reveal an underlying layer which is lighter or darker). The most
prized forms are display items without any practical use –
ewers, bowls, plates and saltcellars. The iconography of this
ewer is inspired by illustrations from the Livre de la Conqueste
de la Toison d'or [The book of the quest for the Golden Fleece],
published in Paris in 1563 and engraved by René Boyvin based on
drawings by Léonard Thiry. Jason, the famous hero of antiquity,
sets off on a quest to find the Golden Fleece which leads him to
meet Medea with whom he has a love affair ending in tragedy. The
ewer displays the