MEET THE MAKER - Dinant Foundry, in search of a lost trade

Brass, also known as yellow copper, is an alloy commonly composed of 7 parts copper and 3 parts zinc. This proportion helps it achieves its brilliant color. Brass has a spectrum of tones ranging from a pale lemon color to a deep golden brown, depending on the amount of zinc used.

The use of brass dates back many centuries. In Europe, the use of brass for artistic purposes centered mainly in the region of the Meuse valley in south-east Belgium. The “copper beaters,” as they were called, appeared in the town of Dinant around the 12th century. In 1255 they assembled and incorporated themselves.

Within a very short period of time, the term dinanderiewas coined to designate the brass works that hailed from the foundries of Dinant. The reputation and quality of dinanderie was so good that the Dinant copper beaters entered into the Hanseatic League, an alliance of trading guilds that maintained a trade monopoly over the Baltic Sea and most of Northern Europe between the 13th and 17th centuries. In London, encouraged by King Edward III, the Dinant merchants established a "Merchant Hall" which operated from 1329 to the end of the 16th century.

The Dinant brass industry flourished for several centuries, but was weakened by quarrels with itseconomic rivals in the neighboring town of Bouvignes-sur-Meuse. In 1466 Charles the Bold, the Duke of Burgundy, sacked and destroyed the town of Dinant as punishment for rebellion against his family. Although the craftsmen fled Dinant and took refuge in other towns in Belgium and abroad, the Dinant name remained forever associated with their brass.

Here at Patine, we are extremely lucky to count among our collection a splendid Dinant brass tray, as seen herein. For more details, please visit our online boutique.

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