| This is a magnificent, monumental German 800 silver tankard in the Art Nouveau style, lavishly decorated all over with lovely repousse work which ingeniously and imaginatively incorporates a design of large coin forms and which has been handsomely embellished with a truly exceptional figural handle depicting a centaur, a mermaid and a dolphin. This unique and remarkable piece rests upon a circular base which has been prettily enhanced by a wide band of repousse work consisting of lovely floral forms and topped by another band featuring alternating round and ovoid geometric motifs. The main body of the tankard comprises a background of sinuously swirling organic and floriforms against which a large selection of European coin forms have been artfully and creatively interspersed to create a truly original and striking design. An upper border shows a simple but effective design of small circular dots topped by an undulating line which echoes the frilled edge of the hinged lid immediately above it. The border of the lid neatly and symmetrically reprises the same flowery repousse band that appears at the base of the tankard. The lid has been topped with a delightful finial showing a figural putti cheerfully perched aloft, wearing a garland of vine leaves and gaily brandishing a grape cluster in his raised right hand. He has been beautifully crafted and his chubby little body and cheeky facial expression have both been realistically and endearingly portrayed with great skill. The figural handle has also been superbly and expertly crafted. It arches gracefully away from the tankard’s main body, first taking the form of an open-mouthed dolphin and then transforming into a beautiful and exquisitely made mermaid whose serene expression and lovely face show no indication that she is aware of the presence of a fierce and fiendish centaur immediately beneath her avidly clutching the tip of her tail in both his hands. All the figures have been made to extraordinarily high standards and have been rendered with exquisite precision; their facial expressions, the dolphin’s scales, the mermaid’s tail, and the centaur’s legs and hooves all showing superb technical ability by the silversmith. This is a museum quality piece and is in perfect condition throughout with a soft and pleasing patina and excellent definition on all the decorative elements. The superb quality and excellence of the figural components is particularly noteworthy. The underside of the base has been stamped with a pair of German hallmarks together with the number 800, indicating that the silver is 800/1000 parts fine. This magnificent tankard would appeal to any connoisseur of fine quality silver and would make a definitive design statement in any setting. It weighs an impressive 96 troy ounces and measures approx. 8 ½” in diameter at the base x approx. 11” wide to the center of the handle x approx. 18” tall to the top of the finial.
Price: $27,500.00 Stock # BD289 |