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Lot no. 1663
TWO-PIECE CUTLERY SET WITH KNIFE AND FORK AND SHEATH South German, 2nd half of the 17th century. The sheath with the acronym WGW and dated 1618. Both handles with fully sculpted ivory figures. The lower half with a putto bearing a capital and two putti wrestling with each other on top. Gilded smooth grip ferrules. The blade bolster is moulded. Centre-pointed blade. Fork with two tines, baluster-shaped bolster. Assorted, fan-shaped wooden scabbard with fine relief carving all around, depicting the 12 apostles. Eyelet carved in the shape of a bearded man's head. Silver tip and locket. Dated 1618 and with the acronym WGW (probably "As God wills"). L Quiver 21 cm, knife 21.4 cm, fork 19.6 cm. Minor wear to the handles, the knife handle with cracks. Blade and fork heavily corroded. Mouth plate and tip of the scabbard loose. Cf. on the upper part of the fork handle for a comparable putti battle scene, but on a simpler pedestal without another putto as a supporting figure: Klaus Marquardt. European cutlery from eight centuries. Stuttgart, 1997 p. 125, fig. 394. A related depiction of wrestling putti, carved from ivory and classified as a German work from the second half of the 17th century, from the former Egloffstein collection is kept by the Wartburg Foundation in Thuringia (inv. no. WSE cat. Amme 138a). Cf. for a similar scabbard with the depiction of the 12 apostles and the monogram WGW from the Hollander collection: Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Nice. Couverts de l'art gothique à l'art nouveau, Collection Jacques Hollander. Nice, 1994. p. 47, fig. 47. or Gertrud Benker. Alte Bestecke, ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Tischkultur. Munich, 1978, p. 80, fig. 113. According to the authors, the acronym WGW (Wie Gott will) refers to the marriage relationship. In this case, the cutlery serves as a wedding gift. This object has a trade licence for the EU. Due to the use of protected materials, this object may not leave the EU.
See original version (German)
Pictures credits: Contact organization
Antique art and decorative objects
About the sale
Catalog
03/21/2024
Offered by Koller Auctions
+41 44 445 63 63

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