A HUNGARIAN SILVER-GILT BEAKER

Brassó was historically the regional capital of the Transylvanian Saxons of the Burzenland, who had come to the area in the 12th century at the invitation of the Hungarians in order to develop towns, build mines, and cultivate the land of Transylvania. In addition to the German/Saxon population living in the walled city and the northern suburbs, Brassó also had a significant Romanian, Bulgarian and Hungarian population. The former campaigned from the 17th century for national, political and cultural rights supported by the Romanians from other provinces, however, it was not until the collapse of Austro-Hungary and the Proclamation of the Union of Alba Iulia in December 1918 that Transylvania was integrated into the Romanian state.

The chased motif of the running hound and fox can also be found on another of Thomas Klosch beakers illustrated in J.H. Kolba, Hungarian Silver, The Nicolas M. Salgo Collection, London, 1996, p. 87, no 65.

For the maker's mark see E.Kőszeghy, Magyarországi őtvősjegywk a kőzépkortòl 1867-ig [Goldsmiths’ hallmarks in Hungary from the Middle Ages to 1867], Budapest, 1936, p. 38, no. 220.