GJPaw Auctions is pleased to offer a superb Brass Rubbing depicting a family memorial, from Belgium. Memorial brass monuments of knights and clergy flourished in medieval Europe from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Earlier effigies made of wood and stone began to be replaced by brass because of its resiliency, durability and capacity to capture precise details on its surface. These effigies were commonly fitted into the walls and floors of churches as coverings for cavities containing relics of martyrs, tomb covers, and memorial plaques. Known as sepulchral art, these objects were almost exclusively made from brass alloys, originating along the Delta of the Rhine River in Belgium and the Netherlands, with the technique quickly spreading along trade routes in the Low Countries and later included Germany, France and Britain. These plaques were commissioned for people of all classes except royalty. In the 1960s, an American woman named Jean Farrell lived in Belgium with her husband. She took up brass rubbing as a hobby, and developed skills and techniques which faithfully captured the finest monuments, going beyond mere reproductions to become art in their own right. They include beautiful gold and silver crayon rubbings on dark and velvet flocked paper, highly detailed rubbings of calligraphic inscriptions, decorative cartouches, and portraiture. Some of these rubbings show only portions of larger monuments; others depict entire life size images. Many of Jean Farrell’s rubbings depict knights in prayer. Brasses from the Low Countries are often distinguished by engravings of figures on a large single plate, whereas figures in Britain appeared separate from the background. Ultimately, both types were fitted into floors and other surfaces. Belgian plaques were also more floral in design with intricate background details. Older memorials from the 13th and 14th centuries tend to show knights reclined on their backs with inscriptions placed around the edges of the plate. In later centuries inscriptions were shifted to the bottom of the plate. Knights were also frequently shown kneeling in prayer, sometimes with their wives, and occasionally even with loyal hunting dogs at their feet. However, soon after Jean Farrell created these works brass rubbing became prohibited. Ironically, those who wished to preserve the information in the monuments slowly but surely wore them down. Consequently, the collection of rubbings now being offered by GJPaw can be described as representing a now extinct art form. This quite beautiful example is a memorial to Anthoine de Nassoigne. The rubbing is wax crayon on Vellum. It measures 30 inches in width by 50 inches in height (76.2 cm by 127.0 cm). It is in very good condition. It is guaranteed authentic and would make a superb addition to any brass rubbing collection.

GJPaw Auctions has been in the Art business for over 25 years and is now expanding its operation to eBay. Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the globe at Primitive in Chicago. Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. We ship worldwide. Add GJPaw to Sellers you Follow and please take a moment to look at our other auction items.