Presentation dish

Masterfully wrought by Augsburg goldsmith Marx Weinold, this presentation platter is richly decorated with feathery acanthus and naturalistic garlands of fruit and vegetables. The central scene may capture a scene from the book of Esther 5:1-8, where the eponymous Queen seeks a favor from King Ahasuerus, or the visit of the Queen of Sheba to the court of King Solomon (I Kings 10:1-13). Unusually, the crowd of attendants and courtiers are dressed in a mélange of styles associated with both Asia and the Americas and fanciful costumes like those from masque productions. Circling the central tableau, the platter is abundantly ornamented with plentiful, naturalistic fruits and thick acanthus. Three of the four small, pastoral vignettes nestled in this outer border are derived from prints by Augsburg goldsmith and printmaker Bernhard Zaech, after artist Jonas Umbach, demonstrating how integral prints were in the creation of beautiful works of silver.