SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY, APPARENTLY UNMARKED

Details

A GERMAN SILVER-GILT MOUNTED MINIATURE PINE AND FRUITWOOD TANKARD
Second half 16th Century, apparently unmarked
The pinewood base enclosed with moulded and pierced scrolling foliage bands, with scalloped foliate band above, the bombé body built up from fruitwood staves and enclosed by an engraved pierced silver-gilt foliate hoop around the shoulder and similar border, with wooden loop handle, the raised cover with border repoussé and chased with grotesque masks within scroll cartouches with fruit festoons between, the octagonal wood centre with finial formed as a seated infant bacchanal holding a drinking cup, the thumbpiece cast with a circular medallion enclosing a grotesque mask
4¼ in. (11 cm.) high

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. 28, no. 149, in the Red Room, in the 'large glazed case near door - Left Hand Division'.
1914 Wernher Inventory, p. 28, no. 141.

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

The unusual construction, following that used for full size wine and beer casks, is of interest. Silver-gilt mounted drinking vessels are usually in the form of beakers such as a fine Swiss example dated 1529 (Christie's, Geneva, 19 May 1997, lot 161).

More from WORKS OF ART FROM THE WERNHER COLLECTION

View All