Showcase 37. Collection of items made of natural and rare materials

Drinking horn. Germany, Hamburg, the late XVIth - early XVIIth century
The Armoury collection of naturals contains articles made of natural materials, such as amber, nacreshells, rock crystal and semiprecious stones etc. in the XVIth-XVIIth century. These artworks resulted a successful collaboration between experts on materials processing and goldsmiths. The most part of the items was executed by German makers.

 

Goblet. Germany, the XVIIth century
Vase. Germany, the first half of the XVIIth century
Passion for rarities, precious materials, pieces of virtu from America, Africa and India influenced applied art of European countries. German jewellers decorated their silverwork with shells of ostrich eggs, coconuts, ivory, mother-of-pearls and glass.
The showcase represents "Nautilus" goblets made of mother-of-pearl shells and ivory; candlesticks, tea-caddies, wine flagons and pickle bowls made of amber; goblets made of ostrich eggshells mounted in gilded silver and group of items made of rock crystal etc.