The Judgement of Paris
Figure Group
1690-1700 (made)
1690-1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an amber group made by the German artist Christoph Maucher (1642- after 1701) in about 1690-1700, probably in Danzig (Gdańsk). Throughout the ages artists and craftsmen have made virtuoso carvings as a display of their skill and ingenuity. Although ivory, wood and stone are relatively easy to carve, other materials such as gemstones are much more demanding. Most of these carvings were made for wealthy patrons and collectors, who delighted in the rarity of the material and quality of the carving. Paris presents the apple to Venus, declaring her the most beautiful of the three goddesses. The other two, Minerva and Juno, stand behind, flanking Mercury. This amber group would have been placed originally on top of an amber casket.
This is one of the finest ambers in the collection. The imaginary landscape suggests and Oriental influence, which may have been inspired by engravings. The slightly awkward but charming tone of the piece is typical of Maucher, who was and amber and ivory carver who undertook commissions for the Brandenburg Court in Berlin.
This is one of the finest ambers in the collection. The imaginary landscape suggests and Oriental influence, which may have been inspired by engravings. The slightly awkward but charming tone of the piece is typical of Maucher, who was and amber and ivory carver who undertook commissions for the Brandenburg Court in Berlin.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Judgement of Paris (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Amber on a wooden core with modern plastic restorations on socle |
| Brief description | Group, amber, The Judgement of Paris, by Christoph Maucher (German), probably made in Danzig (modern Gdańsk), Royal Prussia, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, ca. 1690-1700 |
| Physical description | This figure-group probably originally formed the decorative crowning piece of an amber cabinet. The figures of Paris and Venus are seated with Cupid between them, in front of Juno, Mercury and Minerva. The right arm of Juno, the tips of the fingers of her left hand, and the top of her crown are missing. Minerva's and Venus's right index fingers are missing, and the top of Minerva's lance is lost. The putti medallions on the socle are slightly chipped. Some amber panels on the socle are missing, some replaced by plastic. Surface cracking has occurred on a number of the clear amber panels on the socle. Carved from one large piece of opaque and red amber, with three additional pieces of similar amber carved with flowers and grass cut to fit round, and glued onto the base of the of the group. The socle is formed of amber slabs glued to a wooden core. In the centre of each concave side of the socle is a medallion of a putto in acanthus leaves. On either side of those is at the front and back is an oval landscape scene. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought from Mrs Matthew Marshall in 1873. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an amber group made by the German artist Christoph Maucher (1642- after 1701) in about 1690-1700, probably in Danzig (Gdańsk). Throughout the ages artists and craftsmen have made virtuoso carvings as a display of their skill and ingenuity. Although ivory, wood and stone are relatively easy to carve, other materials such as gemstones are much more demanding. Most of these carvings were made for wealthy patrons and collectors, who delighted in the rarity of the material and quality of the carving. Paris presents the apple to Venus, declaring her the most beautiful of the three goddesses. The other two, Minerva and Juno, stand behind, flanking Mercury. This amber group would have been placed originally on top of an amber casket. This is one of the finest ambers in the collection. The imaginary landscape suggests and Oriental influence, which may have been inspired by engravings. The slightly awkward but charming tone of the piece is typical of Maucher, who was and amber and ivory carver who undertook commissions for the Brandenburg Court in Berlin. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1059-1873 |
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| Record created | January 5, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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