A Swedish parcel-gilt silver tankard

MAKER'S MARK ONLY OF FRIEDRICH RICHTER, STOCKHOLM, CIRCA 1680

Details

A Swedish parcel-gilt silver tankard
Maker's mark only of Friedrich Richter, Stockholm, circa 1680
Cylindrical and on three ball feet chased with fruit and foliage, with foliage above, the body, handle and hinged cover finely engraved with biblical scenes and inscriptions, the scroll handle engraved with fruit and foliage, the ball-shaped thumbpiece similarly chased, the interior of the cover engraved with a cypher IB, marked on base
5.7/8in. (15cm.) high
29ozs. (644gr.)

Lot Essay

The engraved scenes on this tankard are presumably a German 17th century illustrated bible. The most likely source is Matthius Merian's Die bilder zur Bibel, first published as Icones Biblicae, in Strassburg, in 1625-30, which circulated widely in Europe and was used in the Baltic area in particular as a design source for engravers.

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