Covered Beaker

Hans Greiff

ca. 1470 · Silver, gilded silver, enamel, and glass · The Cloisters

This lavish silver beaker from the medieval town hall of Ingolstadt, in Bavaria, bear clear witness to the prosperity of the city and its residents, above all the fraternal members of the town council. The town hall boasted a treasury full of silver, and an on-site pub or "Trinkstube," in addition to its predicable tall towers and a fine clock. Tiny bunches of grapes, fashioned from green and red glass beads, peek out from the vine tendrils at the base, quietly proclaiming this to be a vessel for wine. Hirsute wildmen supporting the base hint at a party atmosphere. The engraved hunting scene on the exterior, complete with unicorn, is not original.

Artist

Hans Greiff

Date

ca. 1470

Medium

Silver, gilded silver, enamel, and glass

Culture

German

Department

The Cloisters

Credit line

The Cloisters Collection, 1950