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Lot Essay
The arms are those of Geuder von Heroldsberg and Haller von Hallerstein, for Julius Geuder von Heroldsberg and Maria Haller von Hallerstein (c.1534-1586). Both were members of prominent Nuremberg families that were also important art patrons. The Haller von Hallerstein family commissioned Dürer's Madonna and Child, c. 1498, now in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington. The Geuder family's Red Castle, Das Rote Schloss, hosted Albrecht Dürer, and it was here that he produced his drawing "Das Kirchdorf".
The Nuremberg silversmith who made these dishes, Sebald Buhel, worked from 1566 until his death in 1583. Buhel also made a set of six small parcel-gilt cups decorated in high relief with hunting scenes, known as haufebecher. These small cups were meant to accompany their owner on travels and hunting expeditions. Popular during the 2nd half of the sixteenth century, their iconography pertains to hunting, allegorical and scriptural references. These bowls, sharing similar iconography, also were presumably meant for traveling purposes.
Buhel's beakers are illustrated in E. Alfred Jones, Catalogue of the Collection of Old Plate of Leopold de Rothschild, 1907, pl. 13, p.p. XIX-XX. Four of these cups sold from the collection of Alfred de Rothschild, Christie's, London, 4 July 1946, lot 17, and again Christie's, London, 12 October 1955, lot 67. Two of the beakers were later sold at Christie's Geneva, 9 November 1976, lot 257.
The present lot belonged to another member of the Rothschild family, Mayer Carl von Rothschild of Frankfurt. His massive collection, encompassing some 5000 works of art, had a distinctive concentration of works of German origin. His collection contained many important pieces of German goldsmith's work. Upon his death, his collection was divided between his widow and three of his daughters, and some of his silver was sold 12-13 June 1911 at Galerie Georg Petit, Paris, 12-13 June 1911. For a discussion of Mayer Carl von Rothschild's role as a collector, see Philippa Glanville, "Mayer Carl von Rothschild: Collector or Patriot" in The Magazine Antiques, October 2005, pp. 144-149.
PHOTO CAPTION: Mayer Carl von Rothschild, by Anton Hähnisch, Christie's Images
The Nuremberg silversmith who made these dishes, Sebald Buhel, worked from 1566 until his death in 1583. Buhel also made a set of six small parcel-gilt cups decorated in high relief with hunting scenes, known as haufebecher. These small cups were meant to accompany their owner on travels and hunting expeditions. Popular during the 2nd half of the sixteenth century, their iconography pertains to hunting, allegorical and scriptural references. These bowls, sharing similar iconography, also were presumably meant for traveling purposes.
Buhel's beakers are illustrated in E. Alfred Jones, Catalogue of the Collection of Old Plate of Leopold de Rothschild, 1907, pl. 13, p.p. XIX-XX. Four of these cups sold from the collection of Alfred de Rothschild, Christie's, London, 4 July 1946, lot 17, and again Christie's, London, 12 October 1955, lot 67. Two of the beakers were later sold at Christie's Geneva, 9 November 1976, lot 257.
The present lot belonged to another member of the Rothschild family, Mayer Carl von Rothschild of Frankfurt. His massive collection, encompassing some 5000 works of art, had a distinctive concentration of works of German origin. His collection contained many important pieces of German goldsmith's work. Upon his death, his collection was divided between his widow and three of his daughters, and some of his silver was sold 12-13 June 1911 at Galerie Georg Petit, Paris, 12-13 June 1911. For a discussion of Mayer Carl von Rothschild's role as a collector, see Philippa Glanville, "Mayer Carl von Rothschild: Collector or Patriot" in The Magazine Antiques, October 2005, pp. 144-149.
PHOTO CAPTION: Mayer Carl von Rothschild, by Anton Hähnisch, Christie's Images