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TANKARD

Creator(s): Unknown (Silversmith)

On view in: First Floor Library


About this object

The ivory is carved with a lion hunt including many figures on foot and horseback and a number of lions. Possibly the scene was inspired by a painting, perhaps one by Rubens or a follower of his. The hunt is literally a tangle of horsemen with spears and others on foot also armed. There are lions attacking and being attacked, more pictorial than sculptural. The fine silver mounting is decorated around the cover in repousse with lions attacking panthers or leopards with a forest background. Above the base is a repousse decoration with paired animals, a lion with a panther and leaf and c-scrolls. The handle is composed of a series of C and double C scrolls. The upper scroll is composed of the forepart of a centaur fighting a dragon, the main scroll with bell-flowers and a mask. Below are several small double c-scrolls the lower one also with a mask. The decoration is in repousse, engraved and stippled. The thumb-piece has a low relief with Orpheus charming the wild animals.

Object name:
TANKARD
Made from:
Ivory -- silver
Made in:
Augsburg, Germany
Date made:
17th c.
Size:
28.6 cm (11 1/4 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
36.3
Class:
IVORY
Signature marks:
MARK traces of hallmarks but they are illegible
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973