Silver Desk Figurine Of A Knight, Germany, Hanau, Efes.

An elegant silver cabinet figure depicting a knight, crafted in the tradition of German Historicism from the first quarter of the 20th century. The sculpture depicts a warrior in full armor holding a sword and a shield, standing on an architectural pedestal with a complex polygonal shape. The figure is designed with a strong decorative expressiveness: the breastplate, the lamellar elements of the thigh guards, the ornate shoulder guards, and the helmet topped with a plume are meticulously modeled. The surface of the silver is worked using repoussé and partial chiseling techniques, creating a rich play of light and emphasizing the relief of the armor’s details.

The object’s artistic value is enhanced by the face, which is carved from ivory. This contrast of materials, characteristic of Germanic cabinet sculpture from the late 19th to early 20th century, accentuates the polychromatic effect and lends the figure a particularly lively and theatrical presence. The shield is decorated with a relief depicting an armored arm holding a weapon, while the base is adorned with cartouches, mascarons, and small figures of mythical animals placed at the corners. The entire composition draws inspiration from the aesthetics of Renaissance weapons and funerary monuments, reinterpreted in the spirit of Hanau’s collectible silverware.

Hallmarks: Efes hallmark; official German hallmarks in the shape of a crescent and a crown; silver fineness mark “800.”

Dimensions: Height 29.5 cm. Width 10 cm.

Weight: 840 g.

Condition: Good collector’s condition.

Provenance: Private collection, Hesse.
Appraisal report: Dr. Daniel Suebsman, 2025. CITES certificate available.

ID-ANTQ-16417