OSTERODE, MAKER'S MARK PROBABLY HB CONJOINED, CIRCA 1660

At least one mark recorded by M. Rosenberg in Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, Frankfurt, 1925, p. 276 as being a silversmith working in Osterode is now believed to actually be the mark of a maker from Oschatz in Saxony. As there are no known silversmiths working in Oschatz with the initials HB it seems most likely that the origin of the present tankard in indeed Osterode. If this is the case there are two possible makers for the tankard, the first being Heinrich Bolte, a brewer and goldsmith who is mentioned as early as 1646 and whose last mention is in 1689. The second is Henrich Brauns whose only record is from 1689. Given the date of the present tankard it would seem that Heinrich Bolte is the most likely candidate, however in the absence of a known example of a mark for either maker it is impossible to be conclusive.

Christie's are grateful to Professor E. L. Richter for suggesting this possible attribution.