Parcel-gilt silver patron sign

Parcel-gilt silver patron sign of the guild of St. George of Cromfoirt

Peter Vallickners

Den Bosch (Bois-le Duc), 1549/1550

49 grams; 7,1 cm diameter, 9,1 cm high (including rings)

The sixteenth-century circular patron sign of the marksmen’s guild of Cromvoirt is engraved on the outer rim with the text ‘+ DV SCVT VAN CROMFORT’ in Gothic capitals. In the middle, surrounded by a cable rim, the silver-gilt figure of St. George on horseback, slaying the dragon, is applied. Twigs are engraved between the words. Four circular suspension eyes are mounted at the top and a suspension hook below. Fully marked at the reverse and displaying an assay stripe.

Here ‘SCVT’ is an abbreviation of the Duct word ‘schutterij’, or ‘marksmen’s guild’, a local military organisation. Little has been written about the marksmen’s guild of St. Joris (George) of Cromfoirt. It must have been founded around 1516 and existed until the mid19th century. It was a marksmen’s guild that shot with the longbow. The Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch has eight silver guild plates, from 1615-1772, from the St. Joris Guild of Cromvoirt in its collection.

A patron-sign is one of the most important pieces of silver in the possession of a guild. It is part of the so- called ‘Kings-chain’ and usually the parrot- shaped Kings-trophy is suspended from it. The sign itself, usually in the shape of a circular medallion – which is also known as the Guild’s Jewel (‘Gildenjuweel’) – depicts the patron- saint of the specific Guild.

The maker’s mark of the silversmith Peter Vallickners appears on the oldest inculpation plate (1538-1642) of Den Bosch as the twentieth sign. He became a master in 1537, but in 1535 he already had an apprentice. From 1537 to 1538 Bauken die Speelman was his apprentice and in 1548 Hanrich Rutten. Peter Vallickners must have died before January 29, 1559. He had his workshop on Markt – Minderbroedersstraat from 1547 to 1552. During his working life he was an assay master for the guild for two years.

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