THE BRIEG CUP: A HIGHLY IMPORTANT GERMAN RENAISSANCE SILVER-GILT AND ENAMEL CUP AND COVER BRESLAU, CIRCA 1538, MAKER'S MARK AV OR VA MONOGRAM (ROSENBERG 1388) The cover surmounted by a figure holding a spear and a shield enamelled with the coat-of-arms of Liegnitz quartering those of Brieg, above a support of colonettes and basse-taille enamel, the lower tier set with three wrought figures of crowned tritons, one holding a silver shield, above the cover set with three parcel-gilt medallions of Roman emperors inscribed "NERVAE TRAIANO, DIVVS AVGVST, DIVI IVLII", the cover chased with three biblical scenes above enamelled inscriptions: Lot and his Daughters/"MEMORES ESTOTE VXORIS LOT.", the Drunkeness of Noah "VERECVNDIA IN VINO RARA.", and the Sacrifice of Isaac/"PATER FIDEI IN CHRISTVM RO. 4"; the interior of the cover set with parcel-gilt enamelled medallion of the arms of the City of Brieg within the inscription "ILL[USTRISSIMI]: PR[INCIPIS]: D[OMINI]: FRID[ERICI]: MUN[US]: NUP[TIAE]: CIVI[TATIS]: BREG[ENSIS]; the cup with broad lip engraved with a triumphal procession, above a band of basse-taille enamel set with three wrought dolphins, over a convex band chased with figures and foliage and set with three medallions depicting: Hercules and the Nemean lion, Samson and the Pillars with inscription "PLUS ULTRA", and a figure embracing a unicorn, symbol of Purity, each medallion separated by a lozenge set with a flowerhead, above three scrolled brackets enclosing an enamelled band inscribed "VITA AMICO. INVIDIA MORTI. COMPARANDA EST", the tiered stem mounted with wrought nereids alternating with bucrania, symbols of Sacrifice, with cherub's heads above and colonettes below surrounding bands of basse-taille enamel, the dome of the foot with convex band chased with scenes of Ceres, Minerva, and Mercury, and applied with three parcel-gilt medallions of the Roman emperors Hadrian, Augustus, and Vespasian; the interior of the cup applied with a parcel-gilt portrait medallion of the Duke of Liegnitz; marked with maker's mark three times under base; also with the lightly scratched inscription "ICH OPUS FECIT [illegible script signature]" 18 5/8 in. (47.3 cm.) high; 86 oz. 10 dwt. (2,693 gr.)
THE BRIEG CUP: A HIGHLY IMPORTANT GERMAN RENAISSANCE SILVER-GILT AND ENAMEL CUP AND COVER BRESLAU, CIRCA 1538, MAKER'S MARK AV OR VA MONOGRAM (ROSENBERG 1388) The cover surmounted by a figure holding a spear and a shield enamelled with the coat-of-arms of Liegnitz quartering those of Brieg, above a support of colonettes and basse-taille enamel, the lower tier set with three wrought figures of crowned tritons, one holding a silver shield, above the cover set with three parcel-gilt medallions of Roman emperors inscribed "NERVAE TRAIANO, DIVVS AVGVST, DIVI IVLII", the cover chased with three biblical scenes above enamelled inscriptions: Lot and his Daughters/"MEMORES ESTOTE VXORIS LOT.", the Drunkeness of Noah "VERECVNDIA IN VINO RARA.", and the Sacrifice of Isaac/"PATER FIDEI IN CHRISTVM RO. 4"; the interior of the cover set with parcel-gilt enamelled medallion of the arms of the City of Brieg within the inscription "ILL[USTRISSIMI]: PR[INCIPIS]: D[OMINI]: FRID[ERICI]: MUN[US]: NUP[TIAE]: CIVI[TATIS]: BREG[ENSIS]; the cup with broad lip engraved with a triumphal procession, above a band of basse-taille enamel set with three wrought dolphins, over a convex band chased with figures and foliage and set with three medallions depicting: Hercules and the Nemean lion, Samson and the Pillars with inscription "PLUS ULTRA", and a figure embracing a unicorn, symbol of Purity, each medallion separated by a lozenge set with a flowerhead, above three scrolled brackets enclosing an enamelled band inscribed "VITA AMICO. INVIDIA MORTI. COMPARANDA EST", the tiered stem mounted with wrought nereids alternating with bucrania, symbols of Sacrifice, with cherub's heads above and colonettes below surrounding bands of basse-taille enamel, the dome of the foot with convex band chased with scenes of Ceres, Minerva, and Mercury, and applied with three parcel-gilt medallions of the Roman emperors Hadrian, Augustus, and Vespasian; the interior of the cup applied with a parcel-gilt portrait medallion of the Duke of Liegnitz; marked with maker's mark three times under base; also with the lightly scratched inscription "ICH OPUS FECIT [illegible script signature]" 18 5/8 in. (47.3 cm.) high; 86 oz. 10 dwt. (2,693 gr.)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
