Beschreibung:

A continental silver-gilt mounted rock crystal, diamond and pearl casketmaker's mark to base rubbed, possibly German or Viennese 19th century
Architectural octagonal box in the Baroque style, a framework of decorative silver gilt strapwork engraved with scrolling foliate motifs, inset with polished facet-cut rock crystal panes, the hinged elaborate rock crystal cover surmounted by floral sprigged mounts created using rose-cut diamonds mounted in silver, framed by naturalistic silver-gilt leaves and interspersed with blister pearls and cabochon turquoise, the ornate thumbpiece formed by furling branches and random clover leaves, pearls and turquoise inset into silver-gilt sunflowers, and seated either side a naked classical maiden cast in silver, each corner pilaster formed by a cavorting silver cherub swathed in silver-gilt vine leaves, turquoise and pearls, more diamond sprigs clustered to the front lower edge, all atop four ornate pedestal feet, height 12cm, length 16cm, weight 49oz.FootnotesThis casket is an exceptionally good example of the type of historicist work of art that became popular during the nineteenth century. The few early collectors of mediaeval and renaissance objects, such as Lord James Manners (1720-90), who amassed a group of sixteenth century mounted rock crystal, were succeeded by a generation for whom genuine old pieces were complemented by pastiches from certain European workshops.
The manufacture of historicist mounted rock crystal flourished in the second half of the nineteenth century, particularly in Vienna. 'Historismus' in gem-set silver reached its zenith at the end of the century in the productions of the Viennese workshops of men like Ratzersdorfer, Rudolf Linke, Ludwig Pollizer and Hermann Bohm, the last of whom is noted for his dazzling displays at the international exhibitions in Vienna in 1873 and in Paris in 1889.
Literature
John Culme, 'Marks, Fine Antique Silver', (London: A. M. Marks Limited, 2005), pp.40-41 with photographs