Renaissance German Turned Standing Rhinoceros Horn Cup and Ivory Cover
A Late Renaissance German Turned Standing Rhinoceros Horn Cup and Ivory Cover on Knopped Ivory Foot of Impressive Size
Old smooth patina. Age cracks to ivory foot
First Half 17th Century
Size: 33cm high, 11cm dia (max) – 13 ins high, 4¼ ins dia. (max)
Old smooth patina. Age cracks to ivory foot
First Half 17th Century
Size: 33cm high, 11cm dia (max) – 13 ins high, 4¼ ins dia. (max)
The Milanese master instructor of turning Giovanni Ambrogio Maggiore visited Bavaria on various occasions between 1574 and 1593 to teach the Duke Wilhelm this newly invented form of art; creating marvellous objects from natural substances. Maggiore also trained the artist Georg Wecker who went on to become in 1578 Dresden’s ‘court turner for life’ to the Elector Augustus of Saxony. Regarded at the time as a form of advanced mechanical technology, the art of virtuosity turning in ivory, ebony and rhinoceros horn became a princely pastime for ‘Drechselnder souverí¤n’.
Rhinoceros horn objects were regarded as items of great rarity and prestige in Renaissance Europe, but they had been regarded as objects of great value with inherent magical properties for well over one thousand years before this time in China, and by the early 17th century Chinese cups and vessels of carved rhino horn were being exported to Europe to meet the demand for exotic curiosities for the cabinets of wealthy collectors.
Rhinoceros horn objects were regarded as items of great rarity and prestige in Renaissance Europe, but they had been regarded as objects of great value with inherent magical properties for well over one thousand years before this time in China, and by the early 17th century Chinese cups and vessels of carved rhino horn were being exported to Europe to meet the demand for exotic curiosities for the cabinets of wealthy collectors.
Renaissance German Turned Standing Rhinoceros Horn Cup and Ivory Cover
SOLD
