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SILVER Seller in Riga, Latvia
An impressive pair of silver cabinet sculptures depicting armoured knights mounted on rearing war horses. Executed in the tradition of German Historicism and the Neo-Renaissance style that flourished in the silver workshops of Hanau at the turn of the twentieth century, the sculptures demonstrate exceptional quality of casting, chasing and engraving. Every element, from the tournament armour and horse barding to the elaborate harnesses and architectural bases, has been rendered with remarkable precision. The riders are presented as noble European knights of the late Medieval and early Renaissance periods, likely inspired by the tournament armour associated with the age of Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519), whose reign is regarded as the culmination of chivalric culture within the Holy Roman Empire. The enclosed helmets, lances and richly decorated horse armour evoke the idealised image of the knight that became highly popular in nineteenth-century German art. Particularly striking is the dynamic composition, with both horses rearing dramatically upon their hind legs, creating the impression of a tournament charge frozen in silver. The faces of the knights are fashioned from a light-coloured material, most likely bone or a contemporary imitation of ivory, a feature frequently encountered in the finest German silver productions of the period. The armour is enriched with semi-precious stone applications in varying colours, enhancing the decorative and highly collectible character of the sculptures. The bases are ornamented with Neo-Renaissance relief decoration incorporating mascarons, scrolling foliage and architectural motifs. Works of this type were intended for the libraries, studies and reception rooms of European aristocratic residences and distinguished private collections. Both in artistic conception and technical execution, these sculptures represent an outstanding example of Hanau silverwork produced circa 1890-1910.
ID: 103387-1788908234-163509
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