Silver Cabinet Figure Of Elisabeth Of Burgundy, Kurz J. & Co, Germany, Hanau.

An elegant cabinet figure crafted by the master silversmiths of the German firm Kurz J. & Co. in Hanau at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The piece is a characteristic example of the historicist silversmithing of that period.

The figure depicts Elizabeth of Burgundy in formal court attire, wearing a crown and holding a scepter, symbols of her dynastic status. The sculpture is distinguished by its particularly meticulous rendering of the folds in the garment and by its rich ornamental decoration executed in chiseling and fine engraving. The surface of the silver is worked with particular attention to the texture of the fabrics and the decorative borders, characteristics of the high-quality productions of the Hanau goldsmith workshops. The face and hands are carved from ivory, creating an expressive contrast between the materials and enhancing the figure’s three-dimensionality.

The work reflects the well-established tradition of Hanau’s goldsmiths in the late 19th and early 20th centuries of drawing inspiration from the iconography of European monumental sculpture and historical prototypes from the Gothic and Renaissance periods. Large-scale commemorative models are thus transposed into the format of a decorative cabinet sculpture intended for collectors’ homes and art galleries. In these works, the monumental themes of the past are reinterpreted through artistic goldsmithing, with particular attention paid to the recreation of historical costume, complex ornamentation, and the architectural composition of the base, giving the figure the character of a miniature commemorative monument.

Hallmarks: Hallmark of the Kurz J. & Co. firm, Hanau; official German fineness marks—the crescent and crown—introduced after the establishment of the imperial hallmarking system in 1884; fineness mark “800,” confirming the use of silver to the German standard.

Dimensions: Height 41 cm. Width 15 cm.

Weight: 2046 g.

Condition: Good collector’s condition.

Provenance: Private collection, Hesse.

Appraisal: Appraisal report by Dr. Daniel Suebsman, 2025. CITES certificate.

ID-ANTQ-16415