Cup
ca. 1600 (made)
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Drinking vessels in the form of owls and birds of prey were popular in German-speaking lands during the 16th and 17th centuries. On this example, the coconut shell has been carved with feathers and the silver mounts include wings with hinges which move as the cup is lifted to drink from.
The piece is also evidence of beliefs held at the time: a small bloodstone amulet engraved with a scorpion was mounted on the breast of the bird as a guarantee against poisoning. While the image of the scorpion was thought to prevent poisoning outright, the amulet's material was believed to protect against haemorrhage, a common effect of poisoning.
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Schatzkammer is one of the few collections of its kind formed in the late 20th century. The Schatzkammer, or treasury, was a new concept in the 16th century. It referred to a special chamber in which the most precious artefacts of a princely collection were housed. Gold and jewelled objects were mounted alongside exotic natural curiosities, including rock crystal, nautilus shells and ostrich eggs. Together they demonstrated not only the wonders of nature and the technical achievements of the artist, but also the intellect and culture of the patron.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
The piece is also evidence of beliefs held at the time: a small bloodstone amulet engraved with a scorpion was mounted on the breast of the bird as a guarantee against poisoning. While the image of the scorpion was thought to prevent poisoning outright, the amulet's material was believed to protect against haemorrhage, a common effect of poisoning.
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Schatzkammer is one of the few collections of its kind formed in the late 20th century. The Schatzkammer, or treasury, was a new concept in the 16th century. It referred to a special chamber in which the most precious artefacts of a princely collection were housed. Gold and jewelled objects were mounted alongside exotic natural curiosities, including rock crystal, nautilus shells and ostrich eggs. Together they demonstrated not only the wonders of nature and the technical achievements of the artist, but also the intellect and culture of the patron.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Cast, raised and chased partially gilded silver (parcel-gilt), carved coconut shell and carved semiprecious stones |
| Brief description | Parcel-gilt mounted coconut cup in the form of a falcon, the coconut body carved with feathers, the remainding body is of silver with silver-gilt talons and lower legs, Germany, ca, 1600 |
| Physical description | Cup in the form of a falcon, the coconut body carved with feathers, the remaining body is of silver with silver-gilt talons and lower legs, a silver-gilt vertical strap connects the lower and upper body with a putto mask at the junction, and at the mid point, an ancient Roman intaglio of a scorpion. The cover is shaped as a falcon's head, the beak and ears are gilded and the eyes inset with carnelians. |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: P.J. Mainz, Stuttgart. Sale, Neumeister Gallerie, Munich, lot 96, November 28, 1984. Purchased from S.J. Phillips, London, 1985. |
| Production | Maker's mark possibly that of Samuel or Hans Kässborer (Rosenberg, no. 4772) |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Drinking vessels in the form of owls and birds of prey were popular in German-speaking lands during the 16th and 17th centuries. On this example, the coconut shell has been carved with feathers and the silver mounts include wings with hinges which move as the cup is lifted to drink from. The piece is also evidence of beliefs held at the time: a small bloodstone amulet engraved with a scorpion was mounted on the breast of the bird as a guarantee against poisoning. While the image of the scorpion was thought to prevent poisoning outright, the amulet's material was believed to protect against haemorrhage, a common effect of poisoning. The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Schatzkammer is one of the few collections of its kind formed in the late 20th century. The Schatzkammer, or treasury, was a new concept in the 16th century. It referred to a special chamber in which the most precious artefacts of a princely collection were housed. Gold and jewelled objects were mounted alongside exotic natural curiosities, including rock crystal, nautilus shells and ostrich eggs. Together they demonstrated not only the wonders of nature and the technical achievements of the artist, but also the intellect and culture of the patron. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.61:1, 2-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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