A Continental Silver-gilt Figural Tazza, probably Moldavian or Transylvanian, mid 17th century

the hexafoil bowl finely chased with six scenes each in lobate cartouche comprising:
Pan and Syrinx
The Story of Io turned into a cow
Mercury with the head of Argus
Phaeton before his father Apollo
Phaeton mounting the chariot of the Sun
The Death of Phaeton
the center embossed in high relief with Argus and Hermes with Io in the background, the stem formed as a rearing horse, shaped oval base chased with lobate strapwork and shells and topped by a frog, the base struck with maker's mark IF device below and an unclear town mark, the bowl with a monogram mark ?IGV

weight 11oz 15dwt (367g) - measurements height 8in. (20.3cm) - Lot Sold 7,500 USD

NOTE: The same monogram mark appears on a parcel-gilt tankard, catalogued as Hungarian, second half seventeenth century, sold Sotheby's, Geneva, 12 November 1990, lot 146. A similiar monogram mark appears on an ewer and basin with Moldavian armorials, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, sold Christie's, Geneva, 15 May 1990, lot 218, where that mark was described as a "fouled anchor" and the date was given as circa 1650.

Sotheby's. Silver. 17 Oct 08. New York  - www.sothebys.com. Photo Courtesy Sotheby's