Monumental Brass for Sale

John & Alice Chudderle

John & Alice Chudderle are turned slightly towards each other. John is wearing armor fashionable during the Wars of the Roses (1455 - 85), designed for comfort and maneuverability, the helmet with visored sallet gave a wider field of vision with easier breathing facilities than earlier types. Alice, daughter of William Blythermore, was previously married to Sir John Juyn. She wears a fur-trimmed gown with butterfly headdress, highly fashionable for the period. 

  

English Brass Rubbing Plate / Plaque

John & Alice Chudderle

$175

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Monumental Brass for Sale

Bishop Jean Avantage

This monumental brass was created in honor of Bishop Jean Avantage. He is buried in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens, France. He is shown kneeling before the enthroned Virgin and Child and has his mitre before him on a checked floor and holds a crozier. He is wearing a cope with the fleur de lys and a maniple hangs over his left wrist. He is being presented to the Virgin and Child by his Patron Saint John the Evangelist who is seen standing behind him with his right arm out stretched. Saint John is holding his attribute, a chalice from which a small dragon can be seen emerging. This is a reference to the legend of the poisoned cup in which the poison came out of the cup in the form of a dragon before Saint John drank the wine. In the background is a rich tapestry backcloth, which has foliage and small birds.

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Marguerite de Scornay, Abbess of Nivelles, Belgium , 1462

This beautiful Belgian brass plate depicts a scene found in many iconographic tomb panels and altarpieces in the 15th century. The deceased is shown being introduced to the Virgin Mary by their patron saint. Here St. Margaret, dressed in the height of fashion, stands behind the kneeling Marguerite de Scornay. The dragon appears with St. Margaret because legend has it that she was tempted by the devil in the form of a dragon while imprisoned for her faith and drove him away when she gave the sign of the Cross. The background is richly decorated with griffins and foliage, the scroll reads "Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner". The symbols of the 4 Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, appear in the corners.

 The shields in this brass represent Marguerite's lineage. She came from a noble family and was a very powerful abbess. The Abbesses of Nivelles were rulers with judicial rights and authority to make coinage under a charter of 1261 from John I, Duke of Brabant. Sister Marguerite was famous for having built a Great Gate and also she ordered Daily Mass to be celebrated by the common chaplains. The plate is set into an altar wall as evidence of that Mass. Plates such as this are not monumental brasses but foundation brasses, made not to commemorate but to record a religious foundation.

During World War II the Church at Nivelles was all but destroyed by bombs, and this brass alone survives, representing the upper third of a large plate. Originally it had been enameled, but only minute traces of this can be detected now.

The multi-color rubbing of this brass emphasizes the rich Flemish design and elaborate detail. Rubbings of portions of the brass also make striking wall hangings and are available at the Wachs Brass Rubbing Centre.

George Washington

This brass is one of a very limited edition made in England to commemorate the American Bicentenary in 1976. The original design is the work of Roger Jones, and was engraved by Ray Hedger. The design reflects the classical style so popular for memorials in English churches around 1776.

Washington was of English descent, and was living on his American estate at Mount Vernon when the dispute between the British home government and the colonists broke out. He became one of the leaders of the local opposition and later was elected to the first Congress at Philadelphia. The following year, 1775, saw him as Commander in Chief of the American Army, and from that time to the end of the struggle in 1783 he was trusted and loved by the people. He became the first President of the republic in 1789, served a second term, but refused election to a third term. 

The brass acquired by the Wachs Brass Rubbing Centre while located in England, was actually delivered on July 4, 1976. Rubbings of it are available in a choice of colors.

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Brass Rubbings From Asia

The term "Brass Rubbings" generally refers to rubbings of monumental brasses found in Europe, but many beautiful rubbings come from countries in Asia. For many centuries rubbings were done in China by students who used this method to copy the writings of Confucius which are engraved on stone plaques.

Rubbings of antique objects make unusual decorative wall hangings.

This combination of the back of an antique Japanese mirror from the Edo period, flanked by rubbings of Tsuba , represents the feminine and masculine, or ying-yang. 

Tsuba are the guards between the hilt and the blade of a Samurai sword. Brass mirrors popular at that period were reflective on one side and richly engraved on the other.

Many such antiques are found and may be rubbed individually or in combination to provide pictures that complement homes with an Asian theme in their décor.

       Foo dogs are prominent in the Buddhist religion and widespread over the Far East. 
       The animal usually stands guard over entrances discouraging evil spirits and maintaining. peace and tranquility.
       This rubbing depicts the foo dogs on either side of the character for "PEACE".

The beauty of Chinese characters creates attractive images in itself. 

In this rubbing the kanji for "Long Life" is above that for "Love".

These and other rubbings of Asian antique artifacts may be ordered from the 

Wachs Brass Rubbing Centre. 

SIR THOMAS BULLEN

SIR THOMAS BULLEN, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, 1538

Located in the St. Peter's Church at Hever Castle, Kent, this life size brass effigy is laid atop a black marble tomb.
It is one of only a few monuments depicting the knight in the full insignia of the order of the garter, at his feet a griffin.
His head on which is a jeweled coronet, rests upon a helmet having for crest a demi-eagle.

Thomas Bullen, the father of Anne Boleyn was held in great esteem by Henry VIII for many years before the marriage. He was made knight of the King's body, treasurer of the household, and repeatedly employed at embassies to Emperor Maximilian and to the courts of France and Germany.

His titles include Viscount of Rochford, earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, and lord privy seal. 

When his daughter Anne was charged with adultery he did little to help her, and he died two years after her execution.

The titles he had acquired were given back to their original owners.

He survived the ill fate of his daughter and her brother by two years.

The monumental brass was probably made in Belgium, where many examples similar in style are found. 

The inscription reads:
" Here lieth Sr Thomas Bullen Knight of the Order of te Garter Erle of Wilscher and 

Erle of Ormunde wiche decessed the 12 dai of Marche in the iere of our Lorde 1538"

The brass rubbing was done on a black background using gold, silver and copper waxes.

Using three colors helps to define all the elaborate details of this brass. 

It may be ordered at the Wachs Brass Rubbing Centre as shown or in a single color.

Canon Henry Oskens, 1535

This beautiful religious brass originated in Cologne, Germany, and is currently located at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The inscription translates "Henry Oskens, Cantor and Canon of this Church, had me made while he was living, pray for him. He died A.D. 1535 the last day of November"

The elaborate engraving in this brass depicts Henry Oskens kneeling at the feet of the Madonna with the Christ Child. To the left is St. Peter, and on the right, above Henry Oskens, is a figure believed to be Charlesmagne, Holy Roman Emperor, shown with the Orb of that position. The bull depicted in the shield above the inscription, symbolizes St. Luke. Within the architectural columns surrounding these images there is a Herald Angel on the left and St. Martha on the right.  The brass has extensive traces of coloring applied to the whole surface.

Rubbings of the whole brass as well as portions of details such as the Madonna and Child, the Herald Angel, or St Peter may be ordered from the Wachs Brass Rubbing Centre.