Large dated 17th century brass dish

Large brass decorated dish, with the story of “The sacrifice of Isaac” in the centre and dated ANNO 1617, the rim decorated with swags of flowers and fruits held by winged bulls.

The sacrifice of Isaac put Abraham to his most agonising test, a trial which he passed completely because of his total faith in God. God told Abraham, ‘take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about’.

Abraham took Isaac, two servants and a donkey and set off on the 50 mile journey. When they arrived, Abraham ordered the servants to wait with the donkey while he and Isaac went up the mountain. He told the men, “we will worship and then we will come back to you’.

Isaac asked his father where the lamb was for the sacrifice, and Abraham answered that the Lord would provide the lamb. Saddened and confused, Abraham bound Isaac with ropes and placed him on the stone altar.

Just as Abraham raised the knife to slay his son, the angel of the lord called out to Abraham to stop and not harm the boy. The angel said he knew that Abraham feared the Lord because he had not withheld his only son.

When Abraham looked up, he saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. He sacrificed the animal, provided by God, instead of his son.

Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham and said, ‘I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and not withheld your son, your only son, I will bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.