An exceptionally large German silver-gilt and enamel cup and cover, the master of the B and anchor, probably third quarter of the 19th century

in early 16th century style, on Bacchus stem, the body, cover and foot fitted with cast panels of putti in bucolic and saturnalian situations, coloured enamel borders, appliques and knops, the figure finial ambitiously holding a shield dated 1569, four marks including a B and anchor conjoined, an anima'ls head facing, a fruit, and another illegible, probably an eagle displayed

Good clear marks to rim of foot. Two or three enamel flowers missing although not noticeable in context of the object and the overall decoration. The cover with small split to lobed section visible in light. Good gauge. In rim of cover bruised. Enamelling generally good. Gilding worn in places but good overall.
"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."

A slightly smaller and less elaborate cup with the same finial and similar enamelwork by this maker was sold by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Sotheby's Belgravia 22 April 1976, lot 134. Another almost identical to the Goldsmiths' cup was sold Christie's 6 November 1974 lot 100. A massive casket with painted and oxydised representations of Olympian gods in 16th century style was also sold, lot 111 in the Sotheby's Belgravia sale of 1976. The author of these and many other pieces that have appeared for sale, the B and anchor maker, remains unknown. He was clearly working to fill the demand for old silver that already existed in the 18th and continued in the 19th century. The 1976 Sothebys cataloguer wrote that W.H Singer in The Art Journal of 1880, pp. 313/314, records 'it is curious that at the present time Germany is the country where are produced nearly all the forgeries of old silver work, such as ewers and hanaps (Old French for a cup) with which the London shops and salerooms are filled...'. The exhibition Macht & Pracht, Europas Glanz im 19. Jahrhundert, 2006, p. 264, dedicated to German 19th century decorative arts in the style of earlier periods, includes a table centre piece with candle branches which included an N 'hallmark' by the B and anchor maker and ascribes the mark to the firm of Neresheimer of Hanau, where a number of manufacturers used marks of their own invention. It is thought that this may be an incorrect attribution as the B and anchor maker is believed to be working considerably earlier in the 19th century than the firm of Neresheimer, nor is the B and anchor mark recorded by Dr. Scheffler as one used by the firm of Neresheimer (Macht und Pracht p. 264, and Wolfgang Scheffler, Goldschmiede Hessens, Berlin, 1976, no. 468)