Sceau en argent, Allemagne, vers 1557

gravé d'armoiries, de l'inscription HENRICUS. IUNIOR.D.G.SACRI.ROMA.IMP.BURRGRAVI'. MISNEN. COM.IN .HARTENS DOMIN'. IN PLAUEN EC *, et de la date 1557, l'anse à charnière gravée d'arabesques, chaque côté avec des scènes d'ivresse, d'après Peter Flötner



deeply engraved with armorials and inscribed HENRICUS. IUNIOR.D.G.SACRI.ROMA.IMP.BURRGRAVI'. MISNEN. COM.IN .HARTENS DOMIN'. IN PLAUEN EC *, also dated 1557, hinged handle engraved with arabesques, cast and chased with  two images of drunkedness after Peter Flötner

A few scratches on the side with the date and further little scratches and minor dents to the top of the handle, one further small dent to the rim of the seal itself and little crack in the jug of scene of angry drunk. Seal is very deeply and finely cut. Overall condition and colour excellent
"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."

Associated literature:
L. Forrer, Biographical dictionary of medallists, London, 1907, vol II p. 107 and vol III p. 57
I. Weber, Deutsche Niederlandische und Französische Renaissanceplaketten 1500-1650, Munich 1975, no. 35.2 and 35.4



La matrice du sceau est celle de Henrich VI (1536-72), Burgraf de Meissen, comte d'Hartenstein and Lord Plauen. De noblesse ancienne, son père Heinrich IV (1510-1554) fut le chancelier et conseiller de Ferdinand I, Roi de Bohême puis Empereur du Saint Empire Germanique. En remerciement de ses services, il fut récompensé du Vogtland, fief héréditaire de la couronne de Bohême, dont la capitale est Plauen, une région bordant le sud- ouest de la Saxe, la Bavière et la Bohême. En 1548, aux temps des tensions religieuses au sein de l'empire, Plauen fut détruite, le château des von Plauen inclus, dans un feu déclenché, dit-on, par un ivrogne. La reconstruction de la ville fut achevée entre 1556 et 1557, année où Heinrich VI, âgé de 21 ans, atteignit la majorité et régna sur Plauen avec son frère Heinrich V (1533-1568). Les scènes sur les anses du sceau, Der Neidische (Le jaloux) et Der Närrische (le fou), d'après la série de Peter Flötner, les conséquences de l'ivrognerie, vers 1535, commémorent probablement les faits de 1548. Elles peuvent être également une allusion au poste du père d'Heinrich VI comme l'un des quatre Schenken (littéralement porteurs de coupe) qui accompagnaient Ferdinand I à la diète d'Augsbourg en 1530, en référence à la fonction originelle de garde de cave de la cour. L'empereur Ferdinand I devint le gardien de Heinrich VI et de son frère après la mort de leur père en 1554 et les garçons ont vraisemblablement connu la cour de Bohême.

L'art difficile de tailler des sceaux, avec cette profonde gravure en miroir, était une technique très probablement maîtrisée par les meilleurs orfèvres allemands du XVIe siècle. Wenzel Jamnitzer par exemple, orfèvre qui travailla pour les rois de bohême dont Ferdinand I, a également fabriqué des sceaux en argent et fer au point d'être nommé après 1542 Die Cutter at the Nuremberg mint. Peter Flotner, auteur de ces scènes, sculpteur, graveur, architecte et médailliste, n'a pu réaliser ce sceau, daté après sa mort en 1546, mais sa réputation a dû surement parvenir jusqu'aux von Plauen. Flotner travaillait à Ansbach et Heinrich V, qui à très probablement donné ce sceau à son frère et co-régent à sa majorité, épousa en 1556 Katharina Dorothea, fille du Margrave de Brandebourg-Ansbach dont le siège et lieu de naissance était Ansbach.

This seal matrix is that of Heinrich VI, Burggraf of Meissen, count of Hartenstein and Lord of Plauen. Heinrich VI von Plauen,(1536-72) came from an ancient noble German family. His father Heinrich IV (1510-1554) had been chancellor and councillor to Ferdinand I, King of Bohemia and later Holy Roman Emperor. In reward for services to Ferdinand he was awarded the Vogtland, a hereditary fief of the Bohemian crown, with its capital town Plauen, an area bordering south west Saxony, Bavaria and Bohemia. In 1548 at the time of great religious tension within the empire Plauen it is said burnt down in a fire caused by a drunkard.  This included the destruction of von Plauen's castle. The rebuilding of the town was completed in 1556 and in 1557 the date engraved on this seal, Heinrich VI, aged 21 gained his majority and began to rule in conjunction with his brother Heinrich V (1533-1568).   It is possible that the scenes on the handle, Der Neidische (the jealous) and Der Närrische (the foolish), after Peter Flötner's series `the consequences of drunkedness' of circa 1535, is a reminder of the events in 1548. They may also refer to the position of Heinrich VI's father as one of the four Schenken  (originally cup bearers) accompanying Ferdinand I to the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, aluding to the position's original function as keeper of the court winery. Ferdinand I had become guardian to Heinrich VI and his brother on their father's death in 1554 and the boys would undoubtedly have known the Bohemian court
It is probable that the difficult art of seal cutting, deep enraving in reverse, was one of the many skills attained by the best German artists of the 16^th century. Wenzel Jamnitzer for example who worked for the Bohemian Kings including Ferdinand I, as well as being a goldsmith  is known to have cast and cut seals in silver and iron and was employed after 1542 as Die Cutter at the Nuremberg mint. Peter Flotner, Scuptor, enraver, architect and medallist, could not have cut this seal as he died in 1546, but his reputation would have been know to the von Plauens. Flotner worked in Ansbach and Heinrich V, who might have given this seal to his co-ruler and brother on reaching maturity was married in 1556 to Katharina Dorothea, daughter of the Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, whose seat and birthplace was at Ansbach.