Tankard; Germany, 18th century. Ivory and silver. With contrasts on the reverse of the base.

About Auction

Live

DECORATIVE ARTS XVI-XIX

By Setdart Auction House

Jun 2, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-06-02 07:00:00 2021-06-02 07:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : DECORATIVE ARTS XVI-XIX https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/setdart-auction-house/decorative-arts-xvi-xix-7000
Setdart Auction House sofia@setdart.com

View Full Catalog (131)

• Lot Description
  Tankard; Germany, 18th century. Ivory and silver. With contrasts on the reverse of the base. Attached certificate of antiquity Measurements: 43 x 25 x 17 cm. The tankard is a type of glass consisting of a cylindrical tank, with a vertical handle and a flat or curved lid. It was originally conceived as a container for drinking beer, hence the lid, to preserve the gas of this beverage. It appeared in the 17th century in England, and even then it was common to lengthen the hinge of the lid to support the thumb. In this case we have a piece that, despite being perfectly functional, would be conceived as a purely decorative object, due to the quantity and quality of the carving work, as well as the value of the material itself. This importance of the tankard is further enhanced by the combination of ivory with embossed, chiseled and engraved silver, composing the base, the handle and the lid. In the central body of the vessel a war scene of great complexity has been carved in deep relief, creating the impression of depth thanks to the gradation of the volume and the position of the different soldiers facing each other in the battle. It is the battle of Gaugamela, a dispute fought in 331 BC between the Persian army under the command of King Darius III and the Macedonian army under the command of Alexander the Great. The level of detail achieved by the author is impressive in this relief, which manages to define armor, manes and faces to perfection. The meticulous work on the silver also stands out. The work of the finials and handles of figurative character has its roots in the 16th century, when the artists especially liked this type of finials, to which they gave animal, human and fantastic forms, linked to each other, hiding the structure and giving form to the different parts of the piece. In the tankard in question, the lid has the appearance of a perfectly detailed warrior. On the handle, on the other hand, we see a female bust with its scaled body, a figure like a figurehead with a female effigy. On the base, wider than the vessel, we see carved floral and vegetal motifs.
• Shipping Info

  • In-house shipping available. Please inquire at admin@setdart.com.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 22.00 %