Pot with handle

Description

Pitchers accounted for most of the output of the pewterer's trade. Evidence of this is the earlier name of the trade, 'Kannengiesser' (pitcher casters), and it is reflected in the pewter collection, made up mostly of pots. The Museum's holding, including types known as 'Stizen', 'Rundelen' and 'Stegkannen'; and examples with prismatic, bell shaped or big bellied bodies, gives a representative overview of Swiss pitcher production. This bow handled pot dating from about 1500 is the oldest secular pewter pot in the collection. With other pieces of similar shape - the Schweizerisches Landesmuseum in Zurich, for example, owns an identical pitcher - it is among the oldest surviving examples of Swiss secular pewter. The weighty vessel has a thick conical foot and a dome shaped hinged lid. A spout with an animal's head at its tip curves up from the vessel's belly. Two opposed bridges projecting up from the belly serve as mounts for the iron handle. On each side of the body are relief coats of arms of the Bubenberg family of Berne and of Spiez (canton of Berne).