A plain dish, engraved with the arms of Nicholas and the arms of Wykeham. Inscribed on the border: Iohannes Nicholas. SS.T.P. / Coll.Btae Mariae Winton Prope Winton / Custos. D.D. 1681. / Recipe Deus ut Recipiat / Qui Dedisti ut Donet

The donor, John Nicholas (1637-1712), was a Scholar of Winchester College (1653), Fellow of New College, Oxford; Warden of New College (1675-79); Warden of Winchester (1679-1712). Soon after becoming Warden, he oversaw a major restructuring of the chapel interior, much of the cost of which was met by Nicholas himself. Work began in 1681 and was completed in 1683. The main changes were the installation of an elaborate wooden screen and reredos (now in New Hall), a carved altar rail (still in situ) and a marble floor (replaced as part of Butterfield’s restorations in the 1860s). Nicholas also added to the stock of chapel plate by commissioning this alms dish and a pair of patens (Si156).

Literature: Philip Braithwaite, The Church Plate of Hampshire (London, 1909), pp. 365-66 (illustrated); Charles Oman, ‘The Winchester College Plate’, The Connoisseur (January, 1962), p. 32 (illustrated).

Exhibited: Winchester Cathedral Treasury, 1969, 1971; ‘Treasures of the English Church’, Goldsmiths’ Hall, London, 30 May – 12 July 2008.

Provenance: Given by John Nicholas, 1681

Location: Treasury, Gallery 1