Cup or pouring vessel: M.27-1933

Current Location: Gallery 32 (Rothschild)

Titles

Cup or pouring vessel

Maker(s)

Maker: Pfaff, Nikolaus (Possibly)
Maker: uncertain (Possibly)

Entities

Description

Carved and polished ivory

Ivory, carved and polished. In the form of an wide-mouthed shell with one side higher than the other, and its narrow lower end resting on the back of a rabbit crouching on a flat almost circular base. Over the top of the higher side is a narrow grotesque owl mask with curling ear tufts, and long flaps extending over the sides, which creates a mouth-like pouring lip. Below it is a long leaf which extends over shell-like lobes until it meets the back of the rabbit. Below the rim on the opposite side there is a grotesque male mask with a beard n the form of serrated leaf, with on each side two more serrated acanthus leaves overlapping each other.

Notes

History note: Uncertain before donor

Legal notes

Given by Alfred A. de Pass

Measurements and weight

Height: 12.2 cm
Width: 9 cm

Relative size of this object

What does this represent?

Relative size of this object is displayed using code inspired by Good Form and Spectacle's work on the British Museum's Waddeson Bequest website and their dimension drawer. They chose a tennis ball to represent a universally sized object, from which you could envisage the size of an object.

Place(s) associated

Prague

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1933) by de Pass, Alfred A.

Dating

Early 17th Century
Circa 1600 CE - Circa 1610 CE

Note

Possibly made in Prague, by Nikolaus Pfaff (1556 (?) - before 1612) c.1600-10. Previously considered to be by a member of the van Vianen family.

School or Style

Mannerism

Components of the work

Decoration composed of ivory
Base Width 4.3 cm

Techniques used in production

Carving : Carved and polished ivory

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: oval paper label with a narrow black line around the edge enclosing the wording

Text: FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM/GIVEN BY/ALFRED A. DE PASS/1933
Location: On base
Method of creation: Printed in black
Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Die Sammlung der Markgrafen und Grossherzöge von Baden, 5th October 1995 page(s): p. 38

Related exhibitions

I Turned It Into a Palace, Sydney Cockerell and the Fitzwilliam Museum

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.27-1933
Primary reference Number: 31820
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 27 January 2021

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

<div class="text-center"> <figure class="figure"> <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa37/M_27_1933_1_201301_adn21_dc2.jpg" alt="Cup or pouring vessel" class="img-fluid" /> <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Cup or pouring vessel</figcaption> </figure> </div>