Silver Knight's Cabinet Figure, Germany, Hanau, Late 19th – Early 20th Century

A silver cabinet figure depicting a knight in full armor, crafted in the tradition of German Historicism. The sculpture depicts a warrior armed with a sword and a shield, standing on a decorative polygonal pedestal. The figure is distinguished by the finesse of its chiseling and the rich elaboration of the armor’s details, adorned with relief motifs, engraved elements, and heraldic decorations. The surface of the armor is partially accented with gilding, creating an expressive play of light and shadow and emphasizing the sculptural structure of the composition.

Particular attention has been paid to the knight’s face, carved from ivory. This technique, characteristic of German cabinet sculpture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lends the work a polychromatic effect and imbues the figure with great expressiveness. The helmet is adorned with a decorative plume, the shield is decorated with heraldic fleurs-de-lis, and the figure’s posture conveys a solemn and ceremonial air typical of historicist interpretations of the chivalric theme in the decorative arts.

The pedestal is designed as an architectural base adorned with decorative relief panels and cartouches. At the corners are small figures of mythical animals, reinforcing the Neo-Renaissance character of the composition. In terms of style and iconography, the figureis inspired by the famous bronze sculptures of Emperor Maximilian I’s funerary monument in the Hofkirche in Innsbruck, which became an important source of inspiration for numerous works of decorative sculpture and goldsmithing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Hallmarks: Manufacturer’s monogram “EFES”; official German hallmarks—crescent moon and crown; fineness mark “800.”

Dimensions: Height 30 cm. Width 10 cm.

Weight: 903 g.

Condition: Good condition. Slight signs of age and wear.

Provenance: Private collection, Hesse.

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

ID-ANTQ-16416