MARK OF ABRAHAM TITTECKE, NUREMBERG, CIRCA 1600

Although based in Nuremberg, goldsmith Abraham Tittecke (also spelled Dittich, Düttich and Turig) maintained close contact with the court of Christian II of Saxony (Elector from 1591-1611) in Dresden, for whom he produced numerous objects. In addition to his duties as goldsmith supplying the Saxon court, he served as metallurgical advisor to the Master of the Saxon Mint, for whom he is known to have produced a coin press in 1607. In 1609, Tittecke oversaw the revision of gold and silver standards at the court mint. This large cup and cover, with its fine scroll decoration, is typical of Tittecke's work. Similar objects by Tittecke may be found in the collections of the Grünes Gewölbe in Dresden and the Hessisches Landesmuseum in Kassel.