A German parcel-gilt silver Musician’s cup (Musikbecher) and cover, maker's mark a house mark probably that of Christoph Gretzinger, Reutlingen, circa 1625

engraved with twenty-two armorial roundels with initials and names, one dated 1625, musician and tree trunk stem, King David playing his harp finial, the body inscribed in verse MIT. MEINER. HARPFEN. UND. MIT. MEINER. ZUNGEN. HAB. ICH. MEIM. GOTT. VIL. PSALMEN. GSUNGEN. DIS. THUN. AUCH./NOCH. VIL. CHRISTEN. MEHR. DA. KOMPT. DER. MUSIK. BECHER. HER, marked on body and foot

Emma Budge, née Lazarus, Hamburg (1852-1937)
The forced sale of her estate: Paul Graupe, Berlin, Die Sammlung Frau Emma Budge, 27, 28, and 29 September, 1937, lot 193
Berlin Schlossmuseum, then Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin
Restituted to the heirs of Emma Budge 2015

R. Schmidt, `Der Musikbecher von Reutlingen’ in Beitrage zur Schwäbischen und bayerischen Kunstgeschichte. Hans Bucheit zum 60. Geburtstag. Münchener Jb. Bildenden Kunst. N.F. 1938/39, Vol. 13 pp. 138-141

Klaus Pechstein, Kataloge Des Kunstgewerbemuseums Berlin, Berlin 1971, vol. 5, no. 74

Marked on the body and foot. Normal scratches and minor dents. The King David finial with minor losses to crown, his sword blade probably repaired. Engraving very crisp. General 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."

The verse in rough translation reads: With my harp and with my tongue, I have sung many psalms to God. Many Christians still do so and this Music Cup therefore exists

Not long after this cup entered the Berlin Schlossmuseum following its sale at auction in 1937 an article was written by Robert Schmidt identifying the South German town where it was made and the goldsmith who made it. No published mark for Reutlingen, a single-headed eagle, common to numerous German cities, existed at the time and the identification was made from other information engraved on the cup. The city was identified via some of the engraved names, recorded Reutlingen citizens, one of whom, Johann Fitzion (1573?-1633) wrote a rhyming chronicle of the city and may have been responsible for the verse on the cup.  The goldsmith’s mark (see detail) is ascribed to a recorded Reutlingen goldsmith Christoph Gretzinger (born 1573), as it is similar to the `armorial’ housemark in the engraved shield of David Gretzinger, his nephew (see detail). While there is no record of a Meistersinger’s guild in Reutlingen, where song and lyric poetry was taught to ancient disciplines, there is no doubt that music and poetry played a significant role in Reutlingen public life. This is captured by the verse on the cup and in the verse chronicle of Johann Fitzion which records the importance of a certain Christoph Ensslin (1573-1657) to the city and its music. Ensslin was a deacon in Reutlingen in 1609, Vicar in 1616 and chief preacher in 1628. He was equivalent to then mayor Matthaüs Beger, in the city’s clerical life. The musical King  in the verse and finial can easily be seen as a flattering reference to Christoph Ensslin, who is described in Johan Fitzion’s verse chronicle as someone who: Welcher auch Reittlinger Statt/ Ein Music angerchtet hatt/ von Burger Unnd von Handwerksleitt/ Sie Underrichtet in der Zeitt/, Dz sich dran zu werwundern ist/ Seins fleiss Unnd Eiffers yeder fris/
Established a music school in Reutlingen town, which taught both bourgeoisie and craftsmen, in a time that leaves one to wonder at his assiduousness and industry without end.

The Zeitt referred to in the verse probably refers to the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), a hard time, which saw Reutlingen as an Imperial Free City having to help pay for the imperial army by melting the silver, held in its societies and guilds. As a result when the article of 1938/39 was written only one other piece of early Reutlingen silver was known; a cup of 1594 given to the town of Tubingen in thanks for assistance during the fire of 8 December 1593.