A Nuremberg silver gilt Renaissance-tankard
Nuremberg 1614-1620
Maker: Christoff Kremer
H 15 cm, weight 308 g.
Above a foot rim decorated with engraved foliage, the almost cylindrical body features a domed hinged lid. The smooth sides are decorated with engraved scrollwork and flowers; the angular volute handle is fitted with a beaded band. The domed hinged lid features matching decoration and a split thumb rest; the conical knob has four volute clasps and a carved decorative leaf wreath. The decorative foliage with maker’s mark IR for Jeremias Rauchwolff (‘Silberblumenmacher’ from Augsburg, 1614–1634, cf. GNM Nr. 692, 1027 b).
Jeremias Rauchwolff was the most prominent representative of a small group of so-called ‘Silberblumenmacher’, who supplied Nuremberg’s goldsmiths with ‘Plümlein oder Streußlein von Silber’ to be used as appliqués on tankards and goblets. On 3 February 1618, the Nuremberg Council passed an amendment to the goldsmiths’ regulations, which henceforth permitted the making of silver flowers solely to master goldsmiths, as well as to Christoph Waltz and Jeremias Rauchwolff.
Literature
Cf. Cat. European Silver 1500 – 1850, Mölnlycke 2011, No. 124 for a columbine cup from Kremer’s workshop.
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