A still life of precious objects

This is a studio version of the central element of the painting by Francken recorded by Dr. Ursula Härting in her monograph on the artist (Frans Francken der Jüngere, Freren, 1989, p. 368, no. 440, illustrated p. 72) as being in the collection of C. Faerber, Göteborg; Dr. Härting dated that work to circa 1600. Another version, formerly attributed to the Monogrammist BDC, was reassigned to Hieronymus Francken II by Sam Segal ('The young Hieronymus and Frans Francken', catalogue of the exhibition, A Prosperous Past, The Hague, 1988, pp. 46-7, fig. 3.5), although Härting, loc. cit., rejects that suggestion and suggests that the signature may be that of Frans. The fact that the present work derives from the Faerber picture can be inferred from the similarity of the background scenes in that work and the present painting.