BOUFFIOULX, circa 1600-1625 - Lot 297

BOUFFIOULX, circa 1600-1625 Large stoneware pilgrim's flask with four loops decorated with stamped applications of bearded men, incised lines and coats of arms. Bears two labels with old provenances: "Bergh de Trips, parti d'Eynatten 1566" - "Grès de Bouffioulin 1566" - "Bergh de Trips, parti d'Eynatten 1566". "Bouffioulx sandstone rescued from the fire of Béthune". Height: 36.5 cm - Width: 26 cm (cracks and chips, restorations). Provenance: Raymond R. (19th/20th) then by descent. A similar piece is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, inventory no. 425-1854. A similar example sold at Christie's on June 27, 2000. The Bergh de Trips family belonged to the nobility of the Kingdom of Belgium. Eynatten is a village in the Trois Frontières region, near Aachen. Béthune was under Spanish Habsburg rule. The fire in question was probably caused in May 1918 by German bombing raids on the town of Béthune.