German, late 17th/ early 18th century

with an associated 18^{th century finial and inscribed in ink: 37/685 and with two old paper inventory labels, one inscribed in ink: 37/685, the other printed: SAMMLUNG * H.E.B. * and inscribed in ink: 79}

Emma Budge, Hamburg;
her forced sale Berlin, Paul Graupe, Die Sammlung Frau Emma Budge, Hamburg, 27-29 September 1937, lot 231, pl. 56;
acquired by the Münchner Stadtmuseum, Munich (inv. no. 37 / 685);
restituted to the heirs of Emma Budge in 2012

Overall the condition of the ivory is good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are four stable open fissures to the ivory at the top of the sleeve, including one at the tree near the bear fight where a piece of ivory may be reattached. The bull's proper left horn may be replaced/ reattached and the top of the head of the fallen creature before it may be restored. The silver-gilt is in good condition with some tarnishing. There are a few nicks and the putto's hat is loose. As noted in the cataloguing the 18th-century putto is associated, as is the handle.
"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."

This fine silver mounted ivory tankard is carved with scenes taken from Jan van der Straet's (1523-1605) hunting series entitled Venationes Ferarum, Avium, Piscium, commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici (1519-1574) and subsequently engraved by Philipp Galle (1537-1612). The dramatic episode in which a knight thrusts a knife into a bear is taken directly from the Bear Hunt, whilst both the leaping lion and charging bull are close to their equivalents in the Fight among a Lion, Horse, Bull and Dogs (see Metropolitan Museum of Art, inv. no. 49.95.886; British Museum, inv. no. 1957,0413.237).

Philipp Galle's engravings were used by Johann Michael Maucher (1645-1701) as models for a number of his ivory reliefs. Maucher's ivory and deer horn charger in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (inv. no. IN 4479) features a number of scenes taken from Galle's engravings of the Venationes Ferarum... Like the present tankard sleeve, the focus of the reliefs composing the Vienna charger are the hunted animals, which similarly spring and charge across each of the scenes. The present tankard finds a close parallel in a tankard sleeve in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (inv. no. Schatzk. H43) featuring a lion and bull in the same compositional arrangement. Note the very similar willow-type trees in the background, which can also be found in a number of Galle's engravings.

RELATED LITERATURE
A. Ehmer, Die Maucher. Eine Kunsthandwerkerfamilie des 17. Jahrhunderts aus Schwäbisch Gmünd, Schwäbisch Gmünd, 1992, pp. 194-9, no. C II 5, figs. 128-34; R. Berliner, Die Bildwerke in Elfenbein, Knochen, Hirsch- und Steinbockhorn mit einem Anhange: elfenbeinarbeiten der staatlichen schlossmuseen in Bayern, cat. Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, 1926, pp. 146, 317, p. 146, no. 872; M. Rosenberg, Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, Hofheim am Taunus, 1922 vol. ii, pp. 317, 335, no. 3518