German, Nuremberg
Plate: The Annunciation, 17th century
Brass, 36 cm (14 3/16 in.)
This is a round ornate brass German religious plate. The center depicts the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of her conception of Christ in relief. To our left is the angel Gabriel, winged and robed. He holds a staff in his left hand. To our left is the Virgin Mary, who has long hair and is wearing a long dress. She leans on an altar covered with an altar cloth. In the center is a bucket of flowers, above which is a bird flying through the air. Lettering, also in relief, reads EWISHNBI RAH. Two rows of embossed floral designs run around the other edges of the plate. The back there is a concave images of the figures that are in relief on the front.
Tapestry Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.