Burghley Nef
The Burghley Nef is a
In medieval France the word nef was applied to various types of boat-shaped containers, including the most magnificent objects intended for the dining tables and buffets of the rich. Apart from having an obvious ornamental quality, their function was to hold personal pieces of cutlery or, as in this case, salt or spices—there is a detachable compartment on the rear deck, which was presumably passed around the table. This nautilus shell was a rare natural curiosity.
The Burghley Nef would have been placed in front of the most important person at table as a mark of their status. At the foot of the main mast, engaged in a game of chess, are the tiny figures of the lovers Tristan and Iseult who, according to the legend, mistakenly drank a love potion and suffered tragic consequences.
The nef was discovered by
Bibliography
- Jackson, Anna, ed. (2001). V&A: A Hundred Highlights. Victoria and Albert Museum. ISBN 9781851773657.
References
External links
Media related to Burghley Nef at Wikimedia Commons