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Lot Essay
This figure appears to be emblematic of Africa and presumably was originally one of a set of four representing the four Continents. Although no print source has, as yet, been identified for this very distinctive figure it seems most closely related to the work of late 16th-early 17th Century printmakers at the court of Rudolph II at Prague, such as Jan Müller.
Such prints were, of course, widely disseminated throughout Europe and an Augsburg or Dresden origin for this figure, given its exceptional quality, seems highly probable. Dresden, home of the Saxon court, is perhaps the more likely of the two cities for this sculpture to have been made in, as most Augsburg silver of this period is marked with town and maker's mark.
Such prints were, of course, widely disseminated throughout Europe and an Augsburg or Dresden origin for this figure, given its exceptional quality, seems highly probable. Dresden, home of the Saxon court, is perhaps the more likely of the two cities for this sculpture to have been made in, as most Augsburg silver of this period is marked with town and maker's mark.