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SILVER BEER TANKARD WITH ATLAS AND CARVED IVORY RELIGIOUS SCENES LÜBECK, FREE IMPERIAL CITY, 17TH CENTURY
SILVER BEER TANKARD WITH ATLAS AND CARVED IVORY RELIGIOUS SCENES LÜBECK, FREE IMPERIAL CITY, 17TH CENTURY
A monumental ceremonial Hanseatic beer tankard executed in chased and parcel-gilt silver, with a cylindrical body encased in a single carved ivory sleeve. The vessel belongs to the prestigious category of guild presentation cups combining ceremonial function with theological symbolism.The iconographic program unfolds in high relief and includes The Fall of Man, The Sacrifice of Cain and Abel, and The Transfiguration. The sequence forms a theological narrative of redemption – from original sin to divine transformation. The carving is executed from a single solid section of ivory with refined modeling and deeply articulated background.The hinged cover is engraved with Romano-Gothic ornament incorporating hops, mascarons and cornucopia motifs. The finial takes the form of a kneeling Atlas supporting a globe engraved with geographical names; among them appears Riga, symbolically referring to Lübeck’s Hanseatic connection with the Baltic trading world.The borders and foot are decorated with a diamond-pattern frieze featuring marine chimeras. The cast Rocaille handle is adorned with a winged maiden and a thumb rest formed as a shell. The interior is gilt.Hallmarks: On the base: rectangular assay mark “13” (13-loth standard, approximately 812 silver); circular city mark of Lübeck with the imperial double-headed eagle; maker’s mark depicting a tree within a hexagonal shield. The combination corresponds to Lübeck’s 17th-century hallmarking system.Dimensions: Height 23 cm.Weight: 685 g.Condition: Good museum condition. Age-related stable cracks to the ivory without loss of carving. Silver with noble patina and partial wear to gilding on raised areas. Hinge and cover functioning correctly.Provenance: Private European collection. CITES certificate for ivory No. BA-S-0332023.
7719 USD
SILVER DECORATIVE DISH WITH A SCENE OF A FEUDAL COURT PROBABLY GERMANY, SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY
SILVER DECORATIVE DISH WITH A SCENE OF A FEUDAL COURT PROBABLY GERMANY, SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY
A large oval silver dish with a multi-figural composition in high relief, executed in the aesthetic of European Historicism. The central medallion presents an allegory of just judgment and paternal governance.At the centre of the scene stands a feudal knight in ceremonial armour with a plume. His figure dominates through scale and sculptural expressiveness; his raised gesture is directed toward the heavens, where clouds appear within the castle interior, symbolising divine presence. Before him kneels a woman with a child, embodying a plea for protection and mercy. To the left unfolds a group of warriors and officials seated at a table with an open book of laws, reinforcing the theme of justice. Architectural elements of the castle interior add spatial depth and theatrical intensity to the composition.A beaded border frames the central oval. The rim is decorated with repoussé garlands of fruits, flowers and foliage with partial gilding. The contrast between the silver surface and the gilded elements enhances the decorative richness and underlines the ceremonial character of the piece. The quality of chasing, depth of modelling and academic treatment of the figures are typologically consistent with South German workshops of the second half of the 19th century.Marks: French import silver mark – “flea” in a rectangular cartouche.Dimensions: 36 x 29 cm.Weight: 522 g.Condition: Good. Minor traces of age and handling. The relief is crisp, without losses or deformation. Partial gilding preserved, with natural wear on protruding elements.Provenance: European private collection.
2019 USD
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