The History of the Silver Nef

A nef was an extravagant table ornament and container used in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, made of precious metals in the shape of a ship – nef was another word for a carrack in French. If not just used for decoration, it could hold salt or spices (the latter being very expensive in the Middle Ages), or cutlery, or even napkins. The large nef depicted in the well-known calendar miniature for January from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is being used to hold, and perhaps wash, gilt dishes from the table service. (1)

Nefs are recorded in France as early as 1239, (2) initially consisting of just the hull, and perhaps initially used to drink from; by the 14th century the most elaborate had masts, sails and even crew, and had become too crowded with such details to be used as containers for anything. The so-called Mechanical Galleon in the British Museum is a late 16th-century German nef which was also a clock and automaton, with moving figures and music calendar miniature for January from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry


Page from the calendar of the Très Riches Heures showing the household of John, Duke of Berry exchanging New Year gifts. The Duke is seated at the right, in blue.

A nef was usually made of silver, silver-gilt or gold, often further embellished with enamel and jewels. A nautilus shell occasionally formed the hull of the ship, as in the Burghley Nef. Some nefs had wheels to allow them to be rolled from one end of the table to the other, but most had legs or pedestals. The nef was placed in front of the most important person at table as a mark of their status.

The equivalent in religious plate is a navicula, Latin for small ship, and a term in English for a boat-shaped incense-holder. (3)


The Burghley Nef, Paris, 1527-1528, France, V&A Museum

Here we see the Burghley nef. It was a beautiful vessel made to hold salt and would have sat in front of Lord Burgley at his table. The expressions ‘Right hand man’ and ‘Worth your salt’ derive themselves from one’s position at the table in relation to the salt cellar. Such was the value of salt at the Medieval table. All the display silver would then sit on the buffet display of plate in front of the table for the Lord and all his guest to admire.

Although initially, nefs consisted of just the hull, perhaps to be used for drinking cups, they soon became too crowded to hold anything. By the 14th century, so much detail was added - including sails, rigging and crew.

Some 19th century nef designs separate below the canon, opening up to reveal space for storing bottles of wine at the dinner table. With the high degree of ornamentation and design used to create Nefs, it's no surprise that they were such statements with such intricate detailing. 

For dinner parties or special occasions, the hull could hold wine and special condiments. Some Nefs as with this example are fitted with wheels, proving particularly useful at dinner parties as they can easily be moved around the table to serve guests.

Over time, the functional nef lost was replaced by an imposing centrepiece that was less practical as a part of the dining experience but purely wonderful decoration to be admired.

Nefs were expensive, and owning one was a clear sign of someone's social status. At dinner parties, the nef was usually placed in front of the most important person at the table, perhaps as a reminder of the host's financial status. They were exclusively used during elaborate meals such as banquets for Kings, Queens, Emperors and Dukes and the nef would be presented ceremoniously to the king to distinguish him from the other guests.


References:
(1) Campbell, Gordon, ed. (2006). The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts, Volume 1. Oxford University
(2) Lightbown, R. W. (1978). Secular Goldsmith's Work in Medieval France: A History. London: Society of Antiquaries of London
(3) Steele, Philip (1995). Castles. New York: Kingfisher. p. 36


 

Ludwig Politzer was one of the most important silversmiths and jewellers working in Vienna in the second half of the 19th century. He was born in 1841 in Szeged (Hungary); from 1866 he was in partnership with Hermann Böhm until about 1870. Ludwig Politzer ‘s works were exhibited at international exhibitions in Paris in 1878 and 1900 and were enthusiastically received by the public. Success brought him the title of court jeweller of the Imperial Court.

Politzer specialized in enamelled silverware, naves (silver models of ships used as table decorations) in the Renaissance style. A fashion now often referred to as historicism.