Tankard: C.2007-1928

Maker(s)

Production: Unidentified Siegburg pottery
Mould maker: Wilhelm, Lomer (Possibly)
Printmaker: Aldegrever, Heinrich

Entities

• Tankard
• Schnelle

Categories

• Stoneware
• German stoneware

Description

Unglazed white stoneware, of tapering cylindrical form with a loop handle, decorated with rectangular panels containing three-quarter figures of Judith holding the Head of Holofernes, Justice, and Lucretia, respectively standing above panels containing the arms of the Duchy of Jules, Cleves and Berg, Salentin von Isenburg, Archbshop of Cologne (1567-77; d. 1610), and the city of Cologne.

Unglazed off-white stoneware, thrown, and decorated with three applied panels moulded in relief. Of tapering cylindrical form with cordons round the neck and base, and a small strap handle with a hole at the top for the insertion of a mount for a lid. The base is slightly concave underneath. Each of the panels on the sides are divided into three sections. The panel to the right of the handle has at the top an arched compartment enclosing a winged half figure of a man terminating in scrolls enclosing grotesque masks; below is a three-quarter figure of Judith holding a sword in her right hand, and the head of Holofernes in her left ,standing below a scrolling ribbon inscribed in relief 'FVRST OLIFERNVS VND IVDIT'; below are the arms of the Duchy of Juliers, Cleves and Berg. The middle panel has at the top an arched compartment enclosing a symmetrical plant and scroll motif; below is a figure of Justice holding a sword in her left hand and a scales in her right, standing below a scrolling ribbon inscribed 'GERECHTICHEIT' in relief; below are the arms of Salentin von Isenburg, Archbishop of Cologne (1567-77); d. 1610): charged quarterly: 1 a cross (Cologne); 2. a horse salient (Westphalia); 3, three nenuphar leaves (Engern); 4 an eagle displayed (Arnspurg); over all, two bars (Isenburg), supported by two male figures, and having the initials 'LW' in relief in the top left corner of the panel. The panel on the left of the handle has at the top an arched compartment enclosing a male mask amid curving foliage; below is a three-quarter figure of Lucretia holding a dagger to her breast, standing under a scrolling label inscribed 'LVCRECIA' A 1576 in relief; below are the arms of the city of Cologne supported by two nude men.

Notes

History note: Mr Stoner, London, from whom purchased on 22 November 1916 for£12 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Place(s) associated

• Siegburg ⪼ North Rhine-Westphalia ⪼ Germany
• Soest ⪼ North Rhine-Westphalia ⪼ Germany

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

16th Century, Late
Production date: circa AD 1576

Note

The initials LW have been associated with Lomer Wilhelm, recorded in the archives of Siegburg potters' guild between 1572 and 1579, and who seems to have moved to other cities, including Raeren.

The three ornamental reliefs at the top were derived from prints by Heinrich Aldegrever (1501/2-1555/61). A tankard (schnelle) with the same biblical and allegorical figures, armorials, initials, and date 1576, is in the Musée du Louvre, inv. no. OA 443. A smaller tankard, 19 cm high, with the same female figures, arms, date 1576 and initials LW, but with the arms differently placed, is in the Musée national de la Renaissance at Écouen, inv. no. E. Cl.2005. A tankard with the same reliefs as those in the arched compartments is in the Kunstgewerbemuseum Cologne, inv. no. E 4244. Another with the same female subjects, the arms of Cologne, the Palatinate, and Wurttemberg, dated 1576, is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, inv. 822: 1,2-1868.

School or Style

Renaissance