Trencher with quotation from The Governance of Virtue (1566) (one of a set)

early 17th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 509
At the end of a banquet it was customary to serve fruit or sweetmeats on the undecorated side of wood trenchers such as these. Afterwards, they were turned over and the moralizing quotations from the Bible read aloud to the assembled company.


The gold effects were achieved with a yellow varnish over a layer of silver-leaf.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Trencher with quotation from The Governance of Virtue (1566) (one of a set)
  • Date: early 17th century
  • Culture: British
  • Medium: Sycamore wood, painted and gilded
  • Dimensions: 4 9/16 × 5 11/16 in. (11.6 × 14.4 cm)
  • Classification: Natural Substances
  • Credit Line: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
  • Object Number: 64.101.1584
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback