A South German turned ivory cup first half 17th century

the stepped circular foot resting on three scrolling feet, divided by three registers of openwork designs, a ring of arched petals surrounding the thick tapering spiral stem rising to a gadrooned knop supporting a narrow, shallowly gadrooned cup, an old collection label underneath bearing the handwritten number "2561" and a similar label inside the cup bearing the handwritten number "33."

Sotheby's, Collection of the Margraves of Baden, Baden-Baden, October 5-21, 1995, lot 284

The three scroll feet were probably shifted to their present position after one of the original attachment sites cracked; this cracked area and two remaining holes representing the previous mounting on underside of stepped cylindrical plinth. One scrollwork foot probably later. The underside also with three smaller holes, evenly spaced. Scattered losses throughout openwork. Chip to one lobe of disc just above openwork section. Otherwise small chips and surface abrasions overall. Staining and dirt.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present cup incorporates both geometrically turned and freely-carved forms: the scrolling feet and organically-twisting stem contrast with the carefully turned plinth and delicately gadrooned cup.

The cup bears two numbers representing inventories of the Grand Dukes of Baden.  Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden (1826-1907) assembled a private Kunstkammer collection after 1879 in the rooms of the former Grand Ducal Naturaliencabinet in the Residenzschloß, Karlsruhe, and an 1883 inventory by Karl Koelitz (Beschreibendes Inventar de Aller Höchsten Privatsammlung Kuntgewerblicher Gegenstände) lists the present cup as inventory number 2561.  It later appears in the inventory made by Richter of works of art brought to the Neues Schloss Baden-Baden after the property division of the Grand Ducal house and the state Baden in 1919, as inventory number 33.  See Sotheby's, Die Sammlung der Markgrafen und Grosshersöge von Baden, Baden-Baden, October 5-21, 1995 for a detailed discussion of the collections and inventories.