CALAMUS INKSTAND, PENTECOSTES INKSTAND, AND ARMILAR INKSTAND AND ARMILAR INKSTAND...
CALAMUS INKSTAND, PENTECOSTES INKSTAND, AND ARMILAR INKSTAND
AND ARMILAR INKSTAND Vista Alegre porcelain, molded and embossed.
Polychrome decorations, hand-painted.
Inscription on the bases: COMMEMORATIVE PIECE
OF THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF VASCO
DA GAMA’S VOYAGE TO INDIA. Designs created by António Viana. #Limited and numbered series of 350 pieces. Piece No. 34. Mark No. 39 (1997–2001). Dimensions: 14 cm; 20 cm; and 9.5 cm. In *Vista Alegre Magazine* No. 8, September 1998, there is
an article about these inkwells, which states:
“The Commission for the Discoveries invited a group of
artists to create pieces commemorating the 5th Centenary of
Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. In collaboration with Vista
Alegre, artist António Viana recreated for the event
three inkwells—Armilar, Calamus, and Pentecostes. The
“Pentecostes” and “Armilar” versions were based on inkwells seen
in an anonymous 16th-century painting belonging
to the Church of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, with decoration inspired by
the ceiling of the choir loft at the Convent of Christ in Tomar. The
Calamus inkwell, in turn, is based on Islamic motifs—a
strong presence in Vasco da Gama’s expedition across the Indian Ocean—with
Arabic-inspired decoration.
CALAMUS INKSTAND, PENTECOSTES INKSTAND, AND ARMILAR INKSTAND
AND ARMILAR INKSTAND Vista Alegre porcelain, molded and embossed.
Polychrome decorations, hand-painted.
Inscription on the bases: COMMEMORATIVE PIECE
OF THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF VASCO
DA GAMA’S VOYAGE TO INDIA. Designs created by António Viana. #Limited and numbered series of 350 pieces. Piece No. 34. Mark No. 39 (1997–2001). Dimensions: 14 cm; 20 cm; and 9.5 cm. In *Vista Alegre Magazine* No. 8, September 1998, there is
an article about these inkwells, which states:
“The Commission for the Discoveries invited a group of
artists to create pieces commemorating the 5th Centenary of
Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. In collaboration with Vista
Alegre, artist António Viana recreated for the event
three inkwells—Armilar, Calamus, and Pentecostes. The
“Pentecostes” and “Armilar” versions were based on inkwells seen
in an anonymous 16th-century painting belonging
to the Church of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, with decoration inspired by
the ceiling of the choir loft at the Convent of Christ in Tomar. The
Calamus inkwell, in turn, is based on Islamic motifs—a
strong presence in Vasco da Gama’s expedition across the Indian Ocean—with
Arabic-inspired decoration.
