Turned cup with concatenated spheres in lid finial

late 16th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 520

Called “historic” to differentiate them from illegally obtained modern material, sixteenth-century ivories like these were produced for (and sometimes by) European princes, who associated elephants with strength and wisdom, traits considered essential for an ideal ruler. Ivory was rare in Europe and reserved for the most talented or high-status craftsmen. Poaching and the expansion of the ivory market have since led to the decimation of elephant populations in both Africa and Asia. It is crucial to conserve and protect elephants from further suffering caused by the current human desire for ivory and status.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Turned cup with concatenated spheres in lid finial
Maker: Possibly Georg Wecker (German, ca. 1550–after 1626)
Date: late 16th century
Culture: German, Dresden
Medium: Ivory
Dimensions: Confirmed: 19 × 6 × 4 7/8 in., 24.7oz. (48.3 × 15.2 × 12.4 cm, 700.312g)
Base (a): 9 1/2 in. × 6 in. × 4 7/8 in. (24.1 × 15.2 × 12.4 cm)
Other (b): 9 3/8 × 4 7/16 × 3 5/8 in. (23.8 × 11.3 × 9.2 cm)
Classification: Natural Substances
Credit Line: Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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Crossbow (Halbe Rüstung) with Winder (Cranequin), Johann Gottfried Hänisch the Elder German, Steel, wood (walnut), staghorn, copper alloy, hemp, leather, silk, gold, iron alloy, wool, crossbow, German, probably Dresden; winder, possibly German — Crossbow (Halbe Rüstung) with Winder (Cranequin)
Crossbow attributed to Johann Gottfried Hänisch the Elder
crossbow, ca. 1720–30; winder, ca. 1575–1600

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