The Butler Hoard - 1st July 2025
Lot 289
AN IMPORTANT MID-18TH CENTURY BRASS TANKARD
Estimate £2,000 - £3,000
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Description
AN IMPORTANT MID-18TH CENTURY BRASS TANKARD
BY THE DEMIDOV FACTORY, URAL, RUSSIA, DATED '1751'
the straight-sided drum engraved with a continuous figural scene of fur traders between bands of scrolling foliage, with a double C-scroll handle and waisted scroll-over thumbpiece, the double domed lid with ovoid finial, stamped maker's marks to the underside of the base
19.1cm high
Catalogue Note
The engraved scene is taken from a painting dated 1576, depicting Russian envoys followed by merchants carrying animal furs, arriving at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian II at Rosenberg. A tankard of similar shape, but with foliate decoration, is in the Order of Lenin State History Museum, Moscow.
Literature
Illustrated and discussed in R. Butler, 'A Study Collection of Marked Domestic Brass and Other Base Metalware c.1600-c.1900', p.27, no. 39 and on the backcover.