Standing cup with cover

The circular foot is ornamented with clusters of fruit and seraph heads. The baluster-shaped stem is decorated with three masks. The broad, swelling bowl is richly embellished with cartouches enclosing leafy baskets of fruit and seraph heads, while cockerels, ostriches and peacocks appear at the centre, framed by palmettes. The lip is similarly adorned with seraph heads and clusters of fruit set within cartouches.

The underside of the cover bears an eagle with outstretched talons, while its exterior is decorated with fruit and landscape scenes enclosed in cartouches. The finial takes the form of a standing Roman warrior holding a shield. The shield is inscribed with the date 1607 and displays a coat of arms featuring a crenellated tower.

An inscription runs around the rim: “Recht muss doch Recht bleiben und werden alle Hetzen anhagen. Anno 1607” — a satirical adaptation of Psalm 94 in the Károli Psalter.

Provenance

San Marco-Nakó collection