PROBABLY NORTHERN DUTCH, MID-16TH CENTURY, APPARENTLY UNMARKED

Details

A SILVER-MOUNTED COCONUT CUP AND COVER
Probably Northern Dutch, mid-16th Century, apparently unmarked
On circular foot with corded and moulded border, the tapering centre repoussé and chased with shaped oval lobes with moulded band above, the support to the cup engraved with band of hearts, the nut carved with scenes from the life and conversion of Saint Hubert, and enclosed within three vertical straps, each with corded border and engraved inscription, the shoulder engraved with hearts and matting, with corded band above, the flared rim engraved with further inscription, the raised cover with openwork foliage border and similarly chased to the foot, the finial formed as a naked female figure standing on a foliage-enclosed sphere and holding with her left hand a lozenge-of-arms, and, with her raised right hand a rope attached to an escutcheon-of-arms
9 in. (23 cm.) high
Gross weight 9 oz. (300 gr.)
The inscription around the rim translates as 'who wants to crack this nut to taste its sweetness' and on the straps, 'I can increase my gathering by allowing my companions to drink in abundance'.

Provenance

Sir Julius Wernher, 1st Bt. (1850-1912), Bath House, London, in the Red Room, by whom bequeathed, with a life interest to his widow, Alice, Lady Wernher, subsequently Lady Ludlow (1862-1945), to their son
Sir Harold Wernher, 3rd Bt., G.C.V.O. (1893-1973), Bath House, London, and from 1948, Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire, and by descent.

Literature

1913 Bath House Inventory, p. 27, no. 140, in the Red Room, in the 'large glazed case near door - Left Hand Division'.
1914 Wernher Inventory, p. 26, no. 133.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Saint Hubert (d. 727) was, according to legend, a young man given to worldly pleasures, especially the chase. While hunting on Good Friday he was confronted by a white stag bearing a crucifix between its antlers, which brought about his conversion to Christianity. He was Bishop of Maastricht and later of Liege and, following his canonisation, was a particularly popular saint in the Low Countries.

Possible Caption - The rim
Who wants to crack this nut to taste its sweetness

The Straps -
I can increase my gathering by allowing my companions to drink in abundance

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