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Footed beaker

Attributed to Paulus Brölfft
second half 16th century
Not on view
In terms of silver content, one of these beakers (see also 2010.110.72) was considered equal to ten of the Show-Thaler coins, though their overall value is amplified by ornament and craftsmanship. Transylvania, a Hungarian province, supplied much of Europe’s silver and gold at the time. Alchemists regarded silver as the moon’s metal, imbued with magic powers. It was also the currency of cash, in particular the Thaler: a coin minted throughout sixteenth-century Europe. In an era marked by constant threat of war, precious silver vessels were literally worth their weight in currency—easily melted down in times of need.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Footed beaker
  • Maker: Attributed to Paulus Brölfft (active 1574–1602)
  • Date: second half 16th century
  • Culture: Hungarian, Nagyszeben
  • Medium: Silver, partially gilded
  • Dimensions: Overall: 7 15/16 x 3 1/4 in. (20.2 x 8.2 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Silver
  • Credit Line: Gift of The Salgo Trust for Education, New York, in memory of Nicolas M. Salgo, 2010
  • Object Number: 2010.110.4
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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