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Covered Tankard with the Olympian Gods
(Baroque Europe )
Along with its associations with distant lands and gigantic beats, the round shape of the elephant tusk, which is hollow at the base, made ivory a popular material for carved cups and tankards to be used and admired as luxury goods, especially by wealthy Germans.
The subjects of the reliefs are usually classical, permitting lightly draped gods and goddesses, sensuously interpreted in the creamy, smoothly polished ivory that appeals to the touch as well as to the eye. The goal was a composition running seamlessly around the vessel. Instead of a single story, this artist depicts pairs of Olympian gods including Jupiter and Juno, in affectionate relationships, garments and gestures gracefully leading the eye to the next couple.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Jacques Seligmann, Paris, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1912, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 1983-1984 | Ivory: The Sumptuous Art. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1971-1972 | World of Wonder. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 2/8/1939 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 6/12/1958 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 11/1/1985 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 10/29/1987 | Treatment | cleaned |
| 10/29/1987 | Examination | examined for condition |
| 1/1/2005 | Treatment | cleaned; coated |
Geographies
Germany (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 12 3/4 x W: 2 13/16 in. (32.4 x 7.2 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1912
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
71.470