Bruges 1798–1809, Empire-style Mustard Jar, Philippe Mys, Solid Silver And Blue Glass

SOLID SILVER MUSTARD JAR WITH BLUE GLASS – BRUGES, 1798–1809 – PHILIPPUS BELLARMINUS MYS

An elegant solid silver mustard pot crafted in Bruges during the French occupation, between 1798 and 1809, by silversmith Philippus Bellarminus Mys (1759–1847).

Cylindrical in shape, this mustard pot rests on three legs ending in lion’s paws. Its openwork mount features a decoration of palmettes and geometric motifs characteristic of the neoclassical style of the late 18th century.

The upper section is accented by a finely chiseled frieze. The handle is decorated with foliage and moldings. The domed lid, entirely unengraved, is hinged and adorned with two acorns—one whole and the other represented by its cupule mounted on a stem.

In ancient tradition, the oak—dedicated to Zeus and Jupiter—symbolized strength, power, and longevity. The acorn, for its part, evoked fertility, growth, and prosperity. This symbolic repertoire experienced a resurgence of interest during the Neoclassical period and under the Empire, when the decorative arts drew heavily on Greco-Roman antiquity.

The mustard jar retains its removable cobalt-blue glass inner container, whose color contrasts elegantly with the openwork silver.

HALLMARKS

The mustard jar bears the master’s mark of Philippus Bellarminus Mys as well as the French “first rooster” hallmarks, used between 1798 and 1809.

THE SILVERSMITH PHILIPPUS BELLARMINUS MYS (1759–1847)

Philippus Bellarminus Mys belonged to a family of Bruges silversmiths whose business continued into the second half of the 19th century.

His workshop was located on Steenstraat in Bruges, in a house known as “Amsterdam.”

His son, Philippus Petrus Mys (1801–1881), born in Bruges on December 2, 1801, continued the family business. He kept the workshop on Steenstraat until 1868, thus ensuring the continuity of this goldsmith’s workshop for several generations.

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

Height: 11.5 cm

Diameter: 6 cm

Weight: 114 grams

Bruges, 1798–1809.