Southern German, mid-17th century

the enamelled copper alloy finial later

Formerly at Schloss Trachenberg, Silesia

Overall the condition of the cup and cover is good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a few naturally occurring inclusions to the rock crystal, notably to the body of the cup; these have been cleverly concealed by the carving and are only very slightly visible from the outside. There are several very minor chips and scratches to the rock crystal, in particular to the edges. There is particular wear to the top edge of the body of the cup due to rubbing against the lid. There is minor tarnishing to the gilt silver, particularly to the grotesques and to the mount of the lid. There is some warping to the metal in areas, notably to the tracery around the lid, some of the leaves framing the rock crystal on the lid and the foot, and the bottom edge of the foot. There is an area of restoration to the engraved metal at the top of the lid. There appear to be a few very small losses to the tracery around the lid and there is some minor greening. The foot of the cup is very slightly loose but stable in its setting. The cup rocks slightly on an even surface. As is stated in the catalogue, the finial at the top is of a later date. There appears to be a loss to the enamelling at its centre.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The beautifully engraved rock crystal elements of this elegant cup appear to be contemporary with the silver gilt mounts made by the Nuremberg silversmith Hans Schauer circa 1640. The finely delineated floral motifs are reminiscent of designs from the middle decades of the 17th century: see, for example, the enamelling on the mounts of an Augsburg cup attributed to Johann Daniel Mayer, circa 1660-1670, in the Louvre (inv. no. OA 6). The form of the cup, with a faceted body, recalls designs for rock crystal vessels made in Southern Germany from the 16th through to the early 17th centuries, particularly in the area of Breisgau in the Black Forest. See, for example, the Deckelpokal made by the Monogrammist B in Breisgau circa 1600 in the Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz (inv. no. 25.843). The attempt to cover the entire surface of the vessel with vegetal designs and arabesques recalls the work of the Miseroni family of hardstone carvers, active in Prague and Milan through the course of the 17th century. The form of the cup, together with the fact that the foot is drilled to support the mounts, would indicate that the stone was incised by lapidaries in Freiburg, Breisgau, the celebrated centre of rock crystal carving in Germany.

In the early 19th century, the Hatzfeld-Werther-Schönstein branch inherited the fief of Trachenberg, thus assuming the title of Princes von Hatzfeld zu Trachenberg and, finally, Dukes of Trachenberg. In the tradition of the great princely and royal German houses, the Hatzfelds also widely collected important Kunstkammer objects such as mounted porcelain, glass, and rock crystal. A significant part of this collection was at Schloss Trachenberg, Lower Silesia, in today’s Poland, which became the main seat of the family from the second half of the 18th century.  Like many other German residences that fell under Soviet occupation, the castle was destroyed during the Second World War, and the estate expropriated. Today, only the shell of what was once one of Silesia’s greatest residences survives.