Standing cup with cover

The standing female figure of the finial of this excellent Renaissance goldsmith work made in Nuremberg is an allegory of one of the Christian virtues (Temperantia, temperance). On the tankard’s body, the seven allegoric figures of liberal arts composed into a rich, diverse frame can be found. Under them, within a simple scroll there is a legend in capitals: GRAMMAT/ICA/, DIALECT/ICA/, RHETOR/ICA/, ARTIMET/ICA//!/, MUSSICA/!/, GEOMETR/IA/, ASTROLOG/IA/. On its base there is a male portrait within an enclosed coin, the legend of GEORGEN ROEMER An 1580 and the initials of Nuremberg coin cutter Valentin Maler. The inside of the cover features an enamelled family coat of arms and the initials of the original owner, of Nuremberg citizen Georg Römer. The chased decoration follows the compositions of Jost Amman’s pen and wash drawings made around 1560. There is a marked analogue by Hans Petzolt in the Musée de Cluny in Paris. The body of that features female figures personating the seven Christian virtues the master also made them following the sketches of Jost Amman.