Covered Cup with Shield of Arms of the Countess of Gleichen

c. 1566 (crystal); 1566 (mounts)

Media Options

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On View

West Building Main Floor, Gallery 27

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    rock crystal and enameled gold

  • Credit Line

    Widener Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 23.8 x 7.7 x 7.7 cm (9 3/8 x 3 1/16 x 3 1/16 in.)

  • Accession

    1942.9.296

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Schönburg-Hartenstein family, Schloss Hartenstein, Zwickau, 1899.[1] Aloys Prince of Schönburg Hartenstein, Vienna, by 1907.[2]. Eugen Gutmann [1840-1925], Berlin, by 1912.[3] (Bachstitz Gallery, The Hague); inheritance from Estate of Peter A.B. Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, after purchase 1922 by funds of the estate; gift 1942 to NGA.
[1] R. Steche, Beschreibende Darstellung der älteren Bau-und Kunstdenkmäler des Königreich Sachsen, no. 12, Amtshauptmannschaft Zwickau, Dresden, 1889: 26, pl. 1.
[2] Austellung alter Gold-und Silberschmiedearbeiten, Exh. cat., K.K. Österreichisches Museum für Kunst und Industrie, Vienna, 1907: 92, no. 502, as German, sixteenth century.
[3] Otto von Falke, ed., Die Kunstsammlung Eugen Gutmann, Berlin, 1912: 26-27, no. 103. The provenance is erroneously given as including the Schönburg-Waldenburg family, and this error is repeated in Inventory of the Objects d'Art at Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, The Estate of the Late P.A.B. Widener, Philadelphia, 1935: 40.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1907

  • Ausstellung alter Gold- und Silberschmiedearbeiten, K.K. Österreichisches Museum für Kunst und Industrie, Vienna, 1907, no. 502.

1997

  • Natur und Kunst beisammen haben -- Der Breisgauer Bergkristallschliff der frühen Neuzeit, The Freiburg University Library, Germany, 1997, no. 47, repro.

1998

  • A Collector's Cabinet, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1998, no. 125.

Bibliography

1935

  • Inventory of the Objects d'Art at Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, The Estate of the Late P.A.B. Widener. Philadelphia, 1935: 40.

1942

  • Works of Art from the Widener Collection. Foreword by David Finley and John Walker. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1942: 10, as South German, dated 1566, Covered vase of rock crystal with the arms of the Schönburg family.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 169.

Inscriptions

on the rim of the cup in four sections: MEINE SVNDE BEDRVBEN MICH GOTTES GNADT ERFREVET MICH ZWEI DING WEIS ICH EIN ARME SVNDER BIN ICH GOT ABER IST BARMHERTZICH 1 5 6 6 [My sins weight heavily upon me God's grace comforts me Two things I know, I am a poor sinner but God is merciful 1566]; on the rim of the cover: ALS VBER FVNFZEHN HVNDERT IAHR SECHSVNDSECHZIG DIE IARZAL WAR HERR MVG(O) VON SCHONBVRG WOL/GEBORN ZV GLAVCH(AV) WALDENBVRG AUSERKORN DES HORNVNGS IN DEM VIERDEN TAG CHRISTO DEM HERRN SEIN GEIST AVF GAB [As ordained on February 4 in the year 1566 Herr Hugo von Schonburg, a man of noble birth from Glauchau Waldenburg, gave up his soul to Christ the Lord]

Wikidata ID

Q62131025

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