pictures of the Griffith trenchers online!
The British museum has put pictures of the entire Griffith set online! (If the link does not work, open the search page, search for 1896,0807.8.a, and then click the "See all views (13)" link. (edited to add, Ivan Day has re-created some of these trenchers in sugar plate!)
This set is unique, I think, in that the flowers are somewhat naturally rendered, and the rectangular tablets for writing spaces are also framed with decorative geometrics. I can't think of another round set where the writing is deliberately confined to a framed, rectangular space (except the Simpsons set, which I think was copied from this set). In rectangular writing space, the Griffith set seems to more resemble the Bird set (I believe the Bird set is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York as Accession number 64.101.1579-.1591a, b) although the Bird set's floral motifs are more similar to the round sets at the MAG, BMFA and the BM's Ironmonger set (1888,1110.42).
The edges of the Griffith set have no matches that I know of. Closest black geometrics on a gold ground are two in the Norfolk collection: NWHCM : 1894.76.434.1 : S, and NWHCM : 1894.76.434.2 : S. Or possibly the black and gold spiral designs on the rectangular set in the Ashmoelan museum, Oxford accession number AN2009.6.
The posies of the Griffith set have no matches that I am aware of. The posies are generally in the "moral precepts" category, and gender neutral for 16th century verse. None are about marriage.
Now spend your goods among your friends
While life does license lend
& let your sons know how to get
before they know [how] to spend
---
Now are your brave and golden days
Now fame with gold we gain
And gold can show us many ways
Men's favors to attain
---
There is no sweet within our power
That is not sauced with some sour.
For so it falls out now and then,
The worser luck the wiser men.
---
It is a point of great foresight
Into yourselves to look aright;
For one others some presume to praise
And fall themselves into decay.
---
Try well your friend before you trust:
Least he do leave you in the dust.
Beware of pretending, flattering shows,
For none are worse than friendly foes.
---
No kind of friend will longer stay
When riches once are gone away.
Ungrateful men breed great offense
As persons void of wit or sense
---
Sure and common is the way
Through friendship to deceive
Though sure and common be the way
It is knavery, by your leave.
---
How they do get [money]; few folk do care
But riches have; they must
By hook or [by] crook, we daily see
The weak to [the] wall are thrust.
---
In justice Judge upright
Not knowing need nor fearing might:
Banishing partiality
Judge all with [a] single eye.
---
Men should beware and take great heed
To hazard friend without great need
For a bird in [the] hand is better [by] far
Than three that in the hedges are.
---
Falsehood in good fellowship
As is the old said saw
Is counted common deception
Contrary to the law
---
Who is rich? Even he that does
Content him with his store:
And who is poor? Even he that seeks
To gather more and more.
This set is unique, I think, in that the flowers are somewhat naturally rendered, and the rectangular tablets for writing spaces are also framed with decorative geometrics. I can't think of another round set where the writing is deliberately confined to a framed, rectangular space (except the Simpsons set, which I think was copied from this set). In rectangular writing space, the Griffith set seems to more resemble the Bird set (I believe the Bird set is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York as Accession number 64.101.1579-.1591a, b) although the Bird set's floral motifs are more similar to the round sets at the MAG, BMFA and the BM's Ironmonger set (1888,1110.42).
The edges of the Griffith set have no matches that I know of. Closest black geometrics on a gold ground are two in the Norfolk collection: NWHCM : 1894.76.434.1 : S, and NWHCM : 1894.76.434.2 : S. Or possibly the black and gold spiral designs on the rectangular set in the Ashmoelan museum, Oxford accession number AN2009.6.
The posies of the Griffith set have no matches that I am aware of. The posies are generally in the "moral precepts" category, and gender neutral for 16th century verse. None are about marriage.
Now spend your goods among your friends
While life does license lend
& let your sons know how to get
before they know [how] to spend
---
Now are your brave and golden days
Now fame with gold we gain
And gold can show us many ways
Men's favors to attain
---
There is no sweet within our power
That is not sauced with some sour.
For so it falls out now and then,
The worser luck the wiser men.
---
It is a point of great foresight
Into yourselves to look aright;
For one others some presume to praise
And fall themselves into decay.
---
Try well your friend before you trust:
Least he do leave you in the dust.
Beware of pretending, flattering shows,
For none are worse than friendly foes.
---
No kind of friend will longer stay
When riches once are gone away.
Ungrateful men breed great offense
As persons void of wit or sense
---
Sure and common is the way
Through friendship to deceive
Though sure and common be the way
It is knavery, by your leave.
---
How they do get [money]; few folk do care
But riches have; they must
By hook or [by] crook, we daily see
The weak to [the] wall are thrust.
---
In justice Judge upright
Not knowing need nor fearing might:
Banishing partiality
Judge all with [a] single eye.
---
Men should beware and take great heed
To hazard friend without great need
For a bird in [the] hand is better [by] far
Than three that in the hedges are.
---
Falsehood in good fellowship
As is the old said saw
Is counted common deception
Contrary to the law
---
Who is rich? Even he that does
Content him with his store:
And who is poor? Even he that seeks
To gather more and more.