18th Century, Mug With Clash Of Knights

18th century

Mug with clash of knights

Ivory carved with silver applications, cm alt. 12

This 19th-century mug represents a fine example of European artistic craftsmanship, featuring a finely carved high-relief ivory central body depicting a dynamic scene of battle between knights. The ivory shaft is framed by elegant silver mounts, which include a molded upper edge, a domed base decorated with pod motifs resting on small spherical feet, and a finely chiseled handle with scrolls and phytomorphic decorations. The object fits perfectly into the prestigious tradition of ivory and precious metal mugs, a type of artefact that reached its peak splendor in the German and Central European princely courts during the Baroque period, between the 17th and 18th centuries. These objects, known as Humpen, were not intended for everyday use but were conceived as parade pieces for the Wunderkammer, the chambers of wonders, where they served to display the wealth, taste and power of the owner. During the nineteenth century, historicist taste brought these forms back into vogue, leading carvers to reinterpret the classical themes of hunting, ancient myths, and historical battles with an almost virtuosic attention to anatomical detail and depth of perspective, making these works extremely sought-after collectible art objects due to their material preciousness and the technical complexity of the carving.