A GERMAN SILVER-GILT CUP FORMED AS A REARING HORSE

The tradition of offering a guest a "Willkommen Pokale", or welcome cup, of wine was long established in Europe and culminated, in the 16th and 17th centuries, with the production of charming cups in the form of animals with detachable heads. These cups would have taken a form relevant to their owners, for example modelled as a heraldic beast or the symbol of a guild. Cups in the form of a horses, such as the present example, were sometimes intended to be used as prizes for competitions.

We are grateful to Professor Dr. Ernst-Ludwig Richter for the identification of the maker's mark.