Mother-of-pearl, jet coral and amber were selected by craftsmen for their beauty, durability and rarity. These materials often occurred in a particular geographical region. Coral for example was prevalent in Sicily and amber along the Baltic coast. Many of the religious items were portable, as were the small portraits. They were often made locally and then taken elsewhere. Pilgrims from all over Europe bought the jet images made in Santiago de Compostela.
Physical description
On the left Paris, half-nude and holding the apple, is seated on a grassy mound under a tree with his arm round Venus, also wearing only slight drapery and a necklace; she half-stands, half-leans against his left leg, about to receive the prize of the apple. On the left are Juno with her peacock and Minerva with her owl, and seated at the front, with a dog, is Cupid. On the back is scratched 'Carrolus Maruti Ext. 1621'.
Place of Origin
Gdansk, Poland (probably, made)
Date
1690-1700 (made)
Artist/maker
Maucher, Christoph, born 1642 (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Amber
Marks and inscriptions
'Carrolus Maruti Ex.t 1621'
Dimensions
Height: 13.2 cm maximum, Width: 12 cm, Depth: 4.3 cm maximum
Object history note
Bought at the Humphrey W. Cook Sale (a part of the collection formed by Sir Francis Cook, Bart) (Christie's, London, 10 July 1925, Lot 460).
Descriptive line
Judgement of Paris, amber, German (Danzig), ca. 1690-1700
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Trusted, Marjorie. Catalogue of European Ambers in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985.
Trusted, Marjorie. Four Amber Statuettes by Christoph Maucher. Pantheon. XLII, III, 1984.
Verres, Rudolf. Der Elfenbein - und Bernsteinschnitzer Christoph Maucher. Pantheon. XII, 1933. pp. 244 ff.
Ehmer, A. Die Maucher. Jahrhunderts aus Schwäbisch Gmünd. 1992, pp. 91-99. fig. 28.
Exhibition History
Amber, a Window to the Past (American Museum of Natural History 02/09/0996-09/02/1996)
Materials
Amber
Subjects depicted
Dog; Cupid; Venus; Minerva; Peacock; Owl; Apple; Juno; Paris
Categories
Sculpture
Collection code
SCP
