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SILVER CHAMPAGNE COOLER WITH BACCHANALIAN FRIEZE AND SATYR HEADS GERMANY, HANAU, SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY
SILVER CHAMPAGNE COOLER WITH BACCHANALIAN FRIEZE AND SATYR HEADS GERMANY, HANAU, SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY
A monumental silver champagne cooler executed in the tradition of German artistic silver of the Historicism period. The vessel was intended for cooling bottles of champagne and served as an important element of formal table decoration in aristocratic and bourgeois households during the second half of the nineteenth century. The artistic conception of the piece combines elements of Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance styles with expressive classical iconography.The body of the cooler is decorated with an elaborate relief frieze depicting a Bacchanalian procession in honor of Dionysus. The composition unfolds around the circumference of the vessel and includes nude figures of satyrs and maenads carrying cups, wreaths, baskets of fruit, and musical instruments. The dynamic poses and sculptural treatment of the figures create the impression of a continuous festive procession. The relief is executed in deep repoussé and chasing, demonstrating refined modelling and a rich play of light across the silver surface.The handles are formed as cast heads of satyrs with long horns and beards, traditional companions of the god of wine. These mascarons are integrated into the decorative program and reinforce the classical character of the design. The upper section of the vessel is encircled by garlands of oak leaves tied with ribbons and bows in the spirit of Neoclassical ornament. The lower register is enriched with cartouches, acanthus leaves, and decorative appliqués. The cooler stands on four powerful feet in the form of lion’s paws with acanthus scrolls, lending the object sculptural stability and a monumental presence.By its artistic and technical characteristics, the object belongs to the high-quality production of Hanau silver workshops, which supplied richly decorated tableware and ceremonial silver for the international market in the late nineteenth century.Marks: Silver standard mark “800”. Maker’s mark in a quatrefoil shield: an eagle above the letters “S - ★ - S”, positioned above the letter “H”. Such workshop marks are characteristic of silver produced by the workshops of Hanau (Germany) and were widely used during the second half of the nineteenth century on historicist objects intended for the international decorative silver market.Dimensions: Height: 22.5 cm; Diameter: 21 cm.Weight: 1940 g.Condition: Good collector’s condition.Provenance: Private French collection.
Begins 03.05.2026
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