Tankard

late 17th century

Not on view

The oval reliefs on the side and the lid of this monumental tankard contain allegories of four continents: Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. Like the Four Elements (see the Hungarian charger with this motif on display nearby), these personifications were an important part of Baroque imagery. The volume of this large tankard is very unusual for Nuremberg silver, suggesting it was specially commissioned for ritual drinking ceremonies at the festivities of a corporation or civic club. Objects of this size appear more often in Scandinavian countries and along the Baltic coast.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Tankard
Artist: Hans Nicolaus Müllner (German, active 1644–88)
Date: late 17th century
Culture: German, Nuremberg
Medium: Silver, partly gilded
Dimensions: Overall: 11 × 10 7/8 in. (27.9 × 27.6 cm)
Classification: Metalwork-Silver
Credit Line: Gift of Estate of James Hazen Hyde, 1959
Object Number: 59.208.72
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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