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A 'Patina' found in a cavern on the island of Tenerife
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SM M1097. ©Sir John Soane's Museum, London. Photo: Justin Piperger
A 'Patina' found in a cavern on the island of Tenerife
Tenerife
Earthenware
Museum number: M1097
On display: Monk's Parlour
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
Soane provides an account of this object and its provenance in his 1835 Description as follows:
Another record of sepulture deposited in the Crypt reminds us of the monuments in the mountains of Telmissus. It is a Patina, presented to me by Dr. Moore, which was discovered, while searching for some strayed goats, in a cave situate [sic] in the Cañadas del Chasma, at the Peak of Teneriffe. In the cave were thirteen mummies of the Guanches, aborigines of the island (twelve males and one female), arranged in a row on a kind of bier composed of stones, at one side of which was placed the above-mentioned Patina, which cannot be less then five hundred years old, and is probably much more ancient'.
In his earlier published Description, issued in 1830 and then again with unchanged text in 1832, Soane provides an even more detailed account:
In the Library is another record of sepulture, which, although less important than the Belzoni sarcophagus, is nevertheless extremely interesting: it relates to the Guanches, aborigines of the island of Teneriffe [sic]. / This Patina, presented to me by Dr. Moore, was discovered under the following circumstances: - / In the year 1827, a Gentleman, who had resided for the benefit of his health in the Convent of Augustine Friars, at the Villa of Oratava, ascended to the summit of the Peak of Teneriffe. On descending, he and his party encountered a goatherd in search of some strayed goats. They proceeded together, and after some time the head of one of the animals was seen issuing from a crevice in a rock near them. After procuring a ladder, &c. and entering this crevice, it was found to be the entrance to a cave, situate [sic] in the Cãnadas del Chasma (a cavity formed apparently by heated air distending the softened lava). In this case were thirteen mummies, twelve males and one female, of the Guanches, arranged in a row on a kind of bier composed of stones, at one side of which was placed the above-mentioned Patina. / The flesh of some of the mummies, as well as the skins in which they had been enveloped, was destroyed by the goats. / This vessel cannot be less than five hundred years old; and in al probability is much more ancient. / The cave in which it was found is situate on the side of the mountain, not far below the glacier line, and is warm and dry. Many of these caves are almost inaccessible. / Near Guimar, or Guimea (pronounced Weema), is one which is said by the country-people to be full of bodies; and at Granadilla is another, situate in a ravine, from the opposite side of which, by means of a telescope, piles of mummies may be seen. / Dr. Sprat says (speaking of the Guanches), that “when any of their princes died, they washed his body, and placing him erect in a cave, they put a sceptre in his hand, with two jars by his side, one filled with milk, the other with water, as the necessary provision for his journey”.
This ceramic vessel pre-dates the conquest of the Canary Islands by Spain in the late 15th century and, as Soane's account states, may be much older. Spanish troops invaded Tenerife in 1494 and overcame the indiginous Guanche people, sending many into enslavement in Spain. The islands were gradually colonised by European immigrants and the population fell victim to introduced European diseases such as smallpox. The British navy, under Nelson, unsuccessfully attacked Tenerife in 1797. Dr Moore and Dr Sprat, referred to in Soane's account remain unidentified but must have been amongst the earliest British visitors.
Another record of sepulture deposited in the Crypt reminds us of the monuments in the mountains of Telmissus. It is a Patina, presented to me by Dr. Moore, which was discovered, while searching for some strayed goats, in a cave situate [sic] in the Cañadas del Chasma, at the Peak of Teneriffe. In the cave were thirteen mummies of the Guanches, aborigines of the island (twelve males and one female), arranged in a row on a kind of bier composed of stones, at one side of which was placed the above-mentioned Patina, which cannot be less then five hundred years old, and is probably much more ancient'.
In his earlier published Description, issued in 1830 and then again with unchanged text in 1832, Soane provides an even more detailed account:
In the Library is another record of sepulture, which, although less important than the Belzoni sarcophagus, is nevertheless extremely interesting: it relates to the Guanches, aborigines of the island of Teneriffe [sic]. / This Patina, presented to me by Dr. Moore, was discovered under the following circumstances: - / In the year 1827, a Gentleman, who had resided for the benefit of his health in the Convent of Augustine Friars, at the Villa of Oratava, ascended to the summit of the Peak of Teneriffe. On descending, he and his party encountered a goatherd in search of some strayed goats. They proceeded together, and after some time the head of one of the animals was seen issuing from a crevice in a rock near them. After procuring a ladder, &c. and entering this crevice, it was found to be the entrance to a cave, situate [sic] in the Cãnadas del Chasma (a cavity formed apparently by heated air distending the softened lava). In this case were thirteen mummies, twelve males and one female, of the Guanches, arranged in a row on a kind of bier composed of stones, at one side of which was placed the above-mentioned Patina. / The flesh of some of the mummies, as well as the skins in which they had been enveloped, was destroyed by the goats. / This vessel cannot be less than five hundred years old; and in al probability is much more ancient. / The cave in which it was found is situate on the side of the mountain, not far below the glacier line, and is warm and dry. Many of these caves are almost inaccessible. / Near Guimar, or Guimea (pronounced Weema), is one which is said by the country-people to be full of bodies; and at Granadilla is another, situate in a ravine, from the opposite side of which, by means of a telescope, piles of mummies may be seen. / Dr. Sprat says (speaking of the Guanches), that “when any of their princes died, they washed his body, and placing him erect in a cave, they put a sceptre in his hand, with two jars by his side, one filled with milk, the other with water, as the necessary provision for his journey”.
This ceramic vessel pre-dates the conquest of the Canary Islands by Spain in the late 15th century and, as Soane's account states, may be much older. Spanish troops invaded Tenerife in 1494 and overcame the indiginous Guanche people, sending many into enslavement in Spain. The islands were gradually colonised by European immigrants and the population fell victim to introduced European diseases such as smallpox. The British navy, under Nelson, unsuccessfully attacked Tenerife in 1797. Dr Moore and Dr Sprat, referred to in Soane's account remain unidentified but must have been amongst the earliest British visitors.
Provenance
Said to have been discovered in 1827 and presented to Soane by a Dr Moore some time between 1827 and 1830.
Literature
J. Soane, Description, 1835, p.35
J. Soane, Description, 1830, 1832, p.xviii
J. Soane, Description, 1830, 1832, p.xviii
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