COVERED GOBLET IN SILVER GILT AND CRYSTAL France, circa 1550 The round foot resting on four sphinxes, the rim emphasised by a frieze of gadroons and a moulded frieze of oves, the centre embossed with fish, dolphins and seahorses, bordered by a plain octagonal frame into which the foot of the octagonal rock-crystal bowl is inserted, The knot is underlined by three heads surrounded by drapery and alternating with bunches of flowers on an amati background, above which is an octagonal frieze of alternating cupules and engraved masks, The lower part of the bowl is finely engraved with four busts of figures with dragonfly wings, two with cherub heads and two with heads of lippu men, alternating with draperies in a surround of interlacing and branches, also engraved in the lower part with four masks, two of young men and two of old men, the lid engraved with interlacing surrounding three crayfish (arms of Pontus de Tyard) and a crustacean bearing five stars - the symbol of cancer, surrounded by two lit torches, four trophies in the lower part, one decorated with a fleur-de-lys and lightning, another with a hurdy-gurdy and bow, one decorated with fire and four bees with fleurs-de-lys, the fourth with a stringed instrument and a book, the crayfish alternating with four masks, two with shells and two with moustaches, each surrounded by two animals (rats, the upper part engraved with six stylised coats of arms (possibly with illegible hallmarks), the grip formed by a Hercules dressed in the skin of the Nemean lion carrying on his head a terrestrial globe engraved with constellations, surmounted by a cross, the cross very probably brought back later. Total height: 34 cm (13 ½ in.) D. (bowl): 15.8 cm (6 ¼ in.) D. (lid): 16,6 cm (6 ½ in.) Provenance: By family tradition, former collection of Pontus de Tyard; Then by direct descent to the present owner. Bibliography : E. Mère, Pontus de Tyard ou l'univers d'un curieux, Editions Hérode, p. 206. A French silver-gilt and cut crystal cup and cover, circa 1550 LIFE OF PONTUS DE TYARD Son of Jean de Tyard and Jeanne de Ganay, he was born in 1521. at the Château de Bissy sur Fley in Burgundy, between Tournus and Montceau. His father was lieutenant general of the county of Charolais and then of the royal bailiwick of Mâcon. PONTUS POET AND MAN OF SCIENCE In 1549, setting a trend, Pontus de Tyard published his Erreurs Amoureuses with the famous Lyon printer Jean de Tournes. Ronsard, and later more than 125 authors, would follow in his footsteps by publishing their Amours. He spoke Latin and Greek, as well as Italian and Hebrew. A frequent visitor to Lyon's salons, he became close friends with the humanist Maurice Scève and discovered his muse, whom he called Pasithée, and who was either Louise Labé, the Belle Cordière, also a poetess, Anne Thulon or Marguerite du Bourg, dame des Gages. However, out of spite of love, her poetic life came to an abrupt end in 1556; it had lasted 7 years. A century later, the Duc de Saint-Simon spoke of Pontus when he said "he was the leading Latin poet of his time and had dealings with all the illustrious ones". He was also a keen astronomer, mathematician and musician. This period also saw the publication of Henri IV's writings. He played a leading role in the conversion of Henri IV, at the request of the King himself. PONTUS DIPLOMAT In April 1575, Pontus received from Henri III, King of France and of Poland, the sum of 500 livres tournois. He was appointed "his adviser and ordinary chaplain" for accompanying the Swiss ambassadors. To this sum he added "2,000 écus, and this in addition to and over and above the other gifts, benefits and rewards, putting into consideration the good and notable services that the deceased kings his predecessors and he, since his accession to the crown, have received from his feal and beloved adviser Messire Pontus de Tyard, bishop of Chalon sur Saône, in several major affairs and desiring these". recognise". In 1588, he took part in the States of Blois. However, on his return to his bishopric, the hostility of the League was such that he was forced to leave Chalon and retire to his library at Bragny, near Verdun sur le Doubs. The arms of the de Tyard family are "per pale Or, three crayfish Gules, two in chief and one in base". To these Pontus added those of his grandmother, Philippine de Véré, "Gules a bend Or between six escallops Or". A medal found in the ruins of Bragny, between Chalon and Dôle, bears Pontus' coat of arms on one side and a small ship at sea on the other, a crescent moon in a starry sky with the motto ME PONTUS SEQUITUR and the date 1570. In a will dated 20 March 1601, Pontus listed among his heirs his nephew Cirus de Tyard, who succeeded him as Bishop of Chalon, his nephews Pontus and Loys de Thyard, and the canons of Chalon Cathedral. However, he stated that he had prohibited an inventory of his possessions. He died on 23 September 1605, the last representative of the Pléiade. DECORATION OF THE CUP Made of gilt, the circular foot represents the sea and the fish it contains, chased with vine leaves and crayfish. This bowl is described as being of considerable size. However, Abel Jeandet, its biographer who held it several times in his hands, certifies that it was nevertheless of a very traditional size.