Lot Essay
Animal-form cups are some of the most attractive silver objects produced in the 16th and 17th century. They were mainly used at guild and corporation "club" dinners, particularly in Germany.
A number of cups formed as bears survive, although very few are as well-modelled as the present example. Indeed this cup is quite exceptional in its natural realism. The bear with its collar is a representation of one of many dancing bears that were used for entertainment at Mediaeval and Renaissance fairs. Another dancing bear, with chain around his body by Leonhard Umbach, Augsburg, 1600-1605 is recorded (see H. Seling, Die Kunst der Augsburger Goldschmiede 1529-1868, Munich 1980, vol. II, fig. 155). The same maker made a pair of bears, circa 1600, holding bag-pipes, which were formally in the Sydney J. Lamon Collection (Christie's London, 28 November, 1973, lot 60). The Augsburg maker Gregor Bair made two examples in the 1580's, one firing a wheelock pistol, the other wearing chain mail over his shoulders and a hat (see Seling, op. cit., nos. 156 and 157).
A number of cups formed as bears survive, although very few are as well-modelled as the present example. Indeed this cup is quite exceptional in its natural realism. The bear with its collar is a representation of one of many dancing bears that were used for entertainment at Mediaeval and Renaissance fairs. Another dancing bear, with chain around his body by Leonhard Umbach, Augsburg, 1600-1605 is recorded (see H. Seling, Die Kunst der Augsburger Goldschmiede 1529-1868, Munich 1980, vol. II, fig. 155). The same maker made a pair of bears, circa 1600, holding bag-pipes, which were formally in the Sydney J. Lamon Collection (Christie's London, 28 November, 1973, lot 60). The Augsburg maker Gregor Bair made two examples in the 1580's, one firing a wheelock pistol, the other wearing chain mail over his shoulders and a hat (see Seling, op. cit., nos. 156 and 157).