Attributed to Johann Georg Kern (1622-98) South German, with Nuremberg mounts, 1660-1670

depicting an allegory of the five senses and Tribulatio Cordi, silver gilt mounts on three ball feet, struck with the Nuremberg town-mark - the letter N, maker's mark - a small house, signifying a member of the Ehkirch family, Viennese control mark AV and French import mark - a swan

J. and S. Goldschmidt, Frankfurt
Albert Ullmann collection, Frankfurt
Private Belgian collection and thence by descent to the present owner

Historische Ausstellung der Stadt Nürnberg auf der Jubiläums-Landes-Austellung, Nuremberg 1906, no.354
Faste et élégance, cinq siècles d'orfèvrerie européenne dans les collections privées, exh. cat. (Brussels, 23 Mars-31 Mai 2004) no.146

M. Rosenberg, Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, vol. 3, no. 4241
Faste et élégance, cinq siècles d'orfèvrerie européenne dans les collections privées, exh. cat. (Brussels, 2004) no. 146

Overall the condition of the hanap is excellent. There are some vertical cracks to the ivory background, which do not run through the figures, as visible in the catalogue photographs. There is some minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. Two of the ball feet are slightly misshapen.
"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."

Like his uncle Leonhard (1588-1662) Johann Georg Kern (1622-1698) delighted in the depiction of sensuous Rubensian women. Johann Georg trained in the workshop of his uncle who was certainly the most important Baroque sculptor in Germany engaged in carving on a small scale. The ivory drum is carved in high relief with considerable undercutting clearly demonstrating the virtuosity of the carver. The five senses are depicted nude or scantily clad together with the animals associated with them. Smell breathes in the scent of a flower whilst behind her sits a dog. Taste holds an armful of fruit with a monkey, symbol of a sweet tooth, below her catching an apple falling from her arms. Sight holds a telescope to her eyes and has an eagle, noted for its keen vision, at her feet. Hearing plays a lute with a stag at her side whilst Touch stands with her left leg raised whilst a snake bites her foot with a tortoise below.  Whilst the five senses are naked and depicted in differing standing postures - from the front, the side, the back - the final figure believed to represent Nature or alternatively Tribulatio Cordis - the tribulations of the heart - is a matronly figure facing full front. She is robed with her arms crossed over her bare breasts, an anvil on her shoulder.

The quality of the carving can be most closely compared with another drum of the same subject in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart (inv. no.1976-37) attributed by Möller to Johann Georg Kern. Variants are in the Grunes Gewölbe, Dresden, the Statliche Museum Schwerin, as well as the  Musée Unterlinden Colmar.  Three other versions are recorded by Möller as being from the Kern workshop.

RELATED LITERATURE
H. Siebenmorgen, Leonhard Kern (1588-1662), Meisterwerke der Bildhauerei für die Kunstkammern Europas (Hällisch-Fränkischen Museums 1988) pp. 77, 247-248; K. A. Möller, Elfenbein, Kunstwerke des Barock (Staatliches Museum Schwerin, 2001) no. 18