Lot number 616A - Auction 150
FEINER HUMPEN MIT KNORPELWERK

A FINE SILVER-GILT TANKARD WITH STRAPWORK ORNAMENT Germany, circa 1630 Silver, repoussé, chased, partly cast and parcel-gilt. Height: 12.7 cm, Weight: 358 g. Struck twice on the underside (re-struck marks [?]). This slightly tapering tankard features a continuous decorative frieze around the body: strapwork (Knorpelwerk) against a punched background, interspersed with stylised floral motifs. The scroll-shaped handle and thumbpiece are elegantly executed, underscoring the ornamental sophistication of this early 17th-century drinking vessel. Tankards of this type emerged in the first half of the 17th century and served not only as functional drinking vessels, but also as symbols of status and prestige for the urban elite and aristocracy. The subtly conical body displays characteristic features of late Renaissance to early Baroque design: clear proportions, encircling bands of decoration, finely engraved ornament, and stylised grotesques or masks. These so-called lidded tankards played a ceremonial and social role at festive gatherings, guild meetings, and official receptions. Beyond their practical use, they reflected the owner's social standing, education, and affiliation with a particular city or guild. Tankards dating from around 1630 represent a significant transitional phase between the formal language of the Renaissance and the emerging expressiveness of the Baroque-both in terms of form and cultural function.