A GERMAN SILVER NEF

The term nef first came into use in the 13th century to describe a drinking vessel but developed over centuries to describe any vessel in the form of a boat. While the Burghley Nef, marked for Paris, 1527, is perhaps the best known example, many examples were made in the early 17th century in Augsburg and Nuremburg. The nef, initially one of the most important pieces of plate, had fallen out of use by the end of the 17th century only to be revived in the 19th century as part of a more general renewed interest in historical forms.