NAVIGATION

An Unusual Berchtesgaden Turned Fantasy Tower in Original Travelling Case
Bone, nutmeg, wood, paper, polychrome
German
17th Century

SIZE: 19cm high - 7½ ins high / case: 5cm high, 5.5cm wide, 22.5cm long – 2 ins high, 2¼ ins wide, 9 ins long

Aesthetically pleasing and artistically fascinating, the art of turning ivory on a lathe to produce varying geometrical shapes was extremely popular in the northern courts of Europe. Practised as a form of leisure activity by the aristocracy, it was a major domestic art form comparable perhaps with embroidery. The tradition dated back to the 16th and 17th centuries when ivory turning was patronised by royalty. Christof Angermair (1580 - 1633) was the court turner to Maximilian, Elector of Bavaria, and was held in such high esteem by his master that he was allowed to marry into the noble family.

Ex Finch and Co, catalogue no. 21, item no. 48, 2013
Ex Private collection