Stein Collectors International
Featured Stein: May 2024
Stein Collectors International
Featured Stein:
May 2024
I was doing my usual stein-surfing on the internet one evening, entering various search terms that I thought might yield interesting stein-related stuff, when a page from a 2006 Christie's auction popped up featuring the bad boy shown on the right - and it took my breath away!
Standing nineteen inches tall, this magnificent C1880 Viennese gilt silver and enamel lidded tankard is decorated with masterfully painted vignettes depicting mythological scenes and appliqued acanthus leaves, scrollwork and masks. (Click the image to enlarge.)
The domed lid is topped with a female warrior that appears to be modeled after Athena, who in ancient Greek mythology was the goddess of wisdom, courage, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, and the arts and crafts - the original Wonder Woman! She was often depicted as a wise and powerful warrior, wearing a helmet and carrying a spear and shield.
The scrolled handle features another female figure, ostensibly Minerva. She was the Roman goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, art, trade, and handicrafts - basically the Roman equivalent of Athena. The Romans often identified their deities with their Greek counterparts. Minerva was often depicted wearing a helmet and carrying a spear, shield, and owl, which was a symbol of wisdom.
Yet another female figure serves as the tankard's thumblift and women are prominently featured in its paintings as well. There was clearly a feminine story being told here, but the auction listing was silent on it.
The underside of the flared base is stamped with Austrian silver hallmarks and "KR", the mark of master craftsman Karl Rössler.
Born in 1854 in Niederpolitz, Bohemia, now Dolní Police in the Czech Republic, Karl Rössler became one of the foremost practitioners of Revivalist goldsmith work in late nineteenth century Vienna, Austria.
Rössler, together with Hermann Ratzersdorfer and Hermann Böhm, was one of a small number of jewelers and goldsmiths specializing in fine painted enamel and hardstone mounted prunkstücke (showpiece) objects in the Mannerist and Renaissance revival styles.
Registered in business in 1890, Karl Rössler is recorded as a "Juwelier und Goldarbeiter" (Jeweler and Gold Worker) specializing in "Kunstgewerbliche Gegenstände in Gold und Silber - Email und Antique-Imitation" (Craft objects in gold and silver - Enamel and antique imitation). He passed away in Vienna on January 7th, 1914.
The stein sold for 16,800 British Pounds (GBP), which in 2006 was the equivalent of $30,912 US dollars. A stein collectors dream, but way above my pay grade.
References:
Karl Rössler biographical information extracted from Christie's Auctions website