Nuremberg, Germany, 17th century
Dimensions: H: 23.5 cm
Fire-gilt silver cup from 17th century Germany
The top of the grape cluster shaped cup is detachable, and the mouthpiece bears the Nuremberg hallmark and the maker’s initials. The top of the goblet’s lid is surmounted by an open rose, and the stem of the goblet matches the hard, woody stem of the grape. The grape stem and the character holding an axe refer to a biblical story when Moses sent spies to Canaan to pick grapes, and the stems of the grapes there were so big and thick that they could only be cut with an axe. A simple petal design runs around the base of the cup.
