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Lot 145 Drinking vessels are both the most used and the most commissioned pieces of silver. They came, however, in many different shapes and sizes from goblets to tankards to standing cups. Germany, which has always respected drinking formality, has developed many shapes. As a beer producing country, the tankard is the most commonly used form in Germany; though the shape varies from region to region, being stout in the South and slender in the North. On the other hand, wine drinking countries such as France or Hungary, developed the beaker, distinguished by its decoration, such as the sheep's-wool engraving typical of Hungarian and Transylvanian beakers.
If the shapes have varied very little over time, it is the decoration that differentiates the centres of production as well as the talents of the goldsmiths, who found inspiration in the existing iconographic sources, creating very elaborate compositions such as on the tankard attributed to Hans Ment.
In addition to this utilitarian function, drinking vessels, such as standing cups, also assume a representative role, when they would be displayed on the buffet in order to impress visitors and confirm the owner's importance.
If the shapes have varied very little over time, it is the decoration that differentiates the centres of production as well as the talents of the goldsmiths, who found inspiration in the existing iconographic sources, creating very elaborate compositions such as on the tankard attributed to Hans Ment.
In addition to this utilitarian function, drinking vessels, such as standing cups, also assume a representative role, when they would be displayed on the buffet in order to impress visitors and confirm the owner's importance.
CHOPE EN VERMEIL
PAR PHILIPP PEPFENHAUSER, AUGSBOURG, VERS 1612
Closed25 February 2009
Price Realised
EUR 46,600