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Two newly discovered silver casters complete the 18th century Bodelwyddan centrepiece

For the last six years, the Williams Silver Centrepiece – better known as the Bodelwyddan Centrepiece – has been on display at Bodelwyddan Castle. Although a popular treasure at the north-east Wales based museum and historic house, Britain’s earliest surviving silver table centrepiece was missing two silver casters.

The two large sugar casters have now been rediscovered, acquired by Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales with the support of Goldsmiths Company and re-united with the centrepiece made in 1730 by Edward Feline for the Williams family of Bodelwyddan.

 

The Bodelwyddan centerpiece is probably the single most important piece of silver in Wales’ national art collection. It is the oldest surviving British example of an early 18th-century silver centrepiece or surtout de table­ – ­an entirely new type of luxury object evolved in France at the court of Louis XIV around 1680, and one which played a key role in the formal dining culture of Baroque Europe. As such it is central to the history of manners and of food in the early 18th century, as well as of design and ornament in silver.

 

The centerpiece was acquired by Amgueddfa Cymru in 1995 without its six silver casters. The four smaller casters, for pepper and dry mustard, had been lost since 1961 but re-emerged in 2012 and were bought by the Museum with the support of the Art Fund. The last two casters, acquired with support from The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity, now complete the centrepiece, which will remain on display at Bodelwyddan Castle for the foreseeable future. 

 

Andrew Renton, Keeper of Art, Amgueddfa Cymru said:

 

“We had always hoped the two missing casters, detached from the centrepiece in the 1950s, would re-emerge. With these, the centerpiece is now the earliest complete example of this very rare type of British baroque table silver. We are pleased it will remain on show for visitors at Bodelwyddan Castle, the home of this treasured item.”

 

Kevin Mason, Director of Bodelwyddan Castle Trust said:

 

“The Trust’s role is to ensure that local people have access to some of our important national treasures. These casters additionally are of particular significance to the history of Bodelwyddan. Tracked down through a determined effort by museum staff, their installation represents all that is good about our long-standing partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru –National Museum Wales.”

 

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales: National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Drefach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea. 

 

Entry to each Museum is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government.

 

Amgueddfa Cymru’s exhibition and activity programme has been supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.