Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-04-07

by the aftermath OF Luneburg ban,
quetS.
These Luneburg pieces represent the
art of the ancient SilverSmith 50 com
pletely that, even were there no other
specimens, the Germanic museum
could well be congratulated upon a
remarkable acquisition. Ornate and
worthy Of description as is each OF the
relics OF the life and municipal
hospitality OF this one typical city
two pieces deserve special attention as
examples of nearly everything that
entered into the silversmith's calling
They'are large gohlets, designed to be
filled with wine and passed from guest
TO guest around the banQueting board;
one is careful working out in metal
of the conquest of Professionalism over
Catholicism, wrought with all the
symbolism in which artists of the
period so much delighted, while the
other represents the genealogy OF
Christ, the vessel being roughly in the
form of tree at the base of which
rechnes the figure of David AMI at the
top the Madonna and Child. The use
of such subjects for the ornamentation
OF purely secular banquet is an IN
teresting illustration OF the close re
lauon between the religion and the
daily life of 10th century Germany
The earliest OF these Luneburg pieces
dates from l476, sixteen years before
Columbus discovered America, ana
was presented to the city by the
prosperous apothecary. The dish was
intended, which is not. perhaps, alto,
gether surprising tor confectionery OF
sweet meats.
Turning from the Luneburg case to
the others one finds the goblet OF GOLD
ana silver presented to Luther on his
wedding day by the University OF Wit
tenberg, and with it the goblet made
for the Emperor Macmillan IL by
Wenzel JamnitZer, one OF the most
famous OF the old Nuremburs silver
smiths. The latter specimen is par.
ticulariy ornate and beautiful example
OF contemporary work, the lid sup
porting a miniature figure OF the
emperor himself surrounded by his
knights and other dignitaries. Here
also are several smaller goblets once
the property OF different guilds that
tlourished in the middle ages, and IL
is il these pieces, usually presented
to the organization by some more OF
less prominent member, that the
silyerSmith appears most often as
something of humorist The tatlors
guild OF old Nuremberg, tor example.
is represented by silver goblet in
the form OF a thimblc, very giant
among thimbles when compared with
a real one, the lid topped by small
boy holding in one hand pair OF
SCISSORS larger than himself and in
the other u needle that suggests the
size ol spear used by IA knight in
medieval tournaments. And there
are also reversible cups for man and
woman TO drink from together with a
large receptacle for the gentleman S
wine and smaller one for the lady's
One Of these, dating 1866, is in the
form OF a woman, whose wide spread
ing petticoat supplies the bowl OF the
cup and bears around the skirt a
quaint inscription which gives full
credit to 'pious wife" as an honor tC
mans house, provided she has nc
marked objection to the flowing goblet
as a means of making home comfort
able.
How these interesting examples OF
past art and daily living were brought
together is an interesting illustration
of the interest which the Harvard
museum has inspired in Germany
The gift was made by large number
0 ( representative German citizens
who wished to present something that
would reflect some phase of the life
and history of the fatherland not al
ready touched upon by the emperor's
gift. The work of the ancient German
silyersmith seemed to meet this re
quirement and committee was ap
poined to select the articles to be re
produced and forwarded to America
The originals are widely scattered in
old world museums, some in private
collections, such as those of the Ger
man emperor, the king of Saxony and
the king of Wurtemburg, and Others
in such institutions as the Paris
Louvre, he English Victoria and Al
bert museum and the museums of Der
lin, Dresden, Stuttgart, Frankfurt ana
other German cities.
The reproductions were made under
the supervision of DR.. Leasing, director
of the Berlin Museum of Arts and
Crafts. So closely do the reproduc
tons resemble the originals that 1t is
almost impossible TO tell the one from
the other. and the first impression that
the collection makes upon visitor is
that Of wonder at its apparent money
value. The originals would, indeed
represent very comfortable fortune