Silver

The shine of silver continues to fascinate collectors to this day, whether it be objects of late Gothic or mid-century design.

Since the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, unique masterpieces of silversmithing have been created in the important master workshops of Nuremberg and Augsburg; in the Baroque period, a number of other cities in the German-speaking region were added - in addition to the old Hanseatic cities of Hamburg and Bremen, there were also Danzig, Königsberg, Berlin, which was a rising star under the Great Elector, Halle an der Saale, and Breslau. We regularly auction individual objects and collections from the strongholds of Nuremberg and Augsburg, but also small towns where only a few gold and silversmiths have settled in history.

A small but no less elaborate and finely crafted museum highlight of the Renaissance was a Spanish ceremonial salt vessel from the 16th century with statuette decoration of cupids, nymphs and warriors (proceeds 48,000 euros).

Among the Baroque tankards of the 17th century, a Danzig object stood out, made around 1650 by Hieronymus Edel and reflecting the high level of the local gold and silversmiths (proceeds 35,000 euros).

The art chamber objects and entertaining showpieces from the Renaissance and Baroque periods included figural centerpieces as decorations for princely tables, which served as drinking games in a double sense. Among them was a museum drinking game in the form of a navigable sailing ship by the Augsburg master Abraham Winterstein from 1625 (proceeds 63,000 euros).

From important provenance, we auctioned off twelve rare plates of museum quality from the former possession of George III, King of Great Britain, Ireland and Hanover (proceeds: 19,000 euros) and a Strasbourg Empire tureen from the connected princely houses of Anhalt and Schaumburg-Lippe (proceeds: 19,000 euros). An Empire travel service with original box from a field equipage of Prince Wilhelm I of Prussia, the later King and Emperor, which he took with him during the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon (proceeds: 54,000 euros). Around 1830, a magnificent set of four classicist table candlesticks was created for the Prussian royal family (proceeds: 55,000 euros).

The design of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modern and Mid Century includes a wide range of designs by well-known designers. Around 1902/03, the universal artist Heinrich Vogeler designed the five-piece coffee and tea service "Herbstzeitlose" for the Bremen company Wilkens in the Art Nouveau style (sales: 12,500 euros). One of the best silversmith workshops of the Modern or International Style around 1930 was Wilm in Berlin, which produced a pair of table girandoles (sales: 9,000 euros). In addition to Georg Jensen, the Dane Karl Gustav Hansen, whose works have been shown at World Exhibitions several times since 1935, represents the best Scandinavian design of the 20th century. In 1967, he designed the "Fish Dish" (sales: 53,000 euros), which is exceptional in terms of design history.

In addition to such historically significant and representative objects from all eras and some of which have well-known or noble provenance, our range also includes the finest silverware for the festively laid table. Famous silver manufacturers such as Georg Jensen, Hans Hansen, Tiffany & Co, Christofle, Bruckmann & Söhne and Wilkens are responsible for this.