A German parcel-gilt silver tankard, Philipp Küsel, Augsburg, 1691-95. Photo Sotheby's.

hinged cover finely embossed with emperor profiles and fruit, underside later initialled AWD, PTD, ASH and dated 1748; 23.5cm. high; 9¼in.; 1540gr, 49oz 10dwt. Estimation 15,000 — 20,000 GBP

Litterature: Marc Rosenberg, Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, Frankfurt am Main, 1922, no 652(a) with 1886 Augsburg exhibition reference
Helmut Seling, Die Augsburger Gold-und Silverschmiede 1529-1868, Munich, 2007, no 1692 (g) illus. no. 439

The arms are those of Counts Limburg-Stirum. The inscription reads "HERMAN OTTO GRAFF ZU LIMBOURG UND BRONCHORST. HERR ZU STYRUM. WISCH BORCKELDE UND GEHMEN. ERBANNER HERR DES FÜRSTENTHUMBS GELDEREN UND GRAFFSCHAFFT ZUTPHEN DER RÖM. KAÿ MAÿ WÜRCKLICHER CAMERHERR. V. obrister"

Field Marshall Count Hermann Otto II , of Limburg Stirum and Bronckhorst. (1646 - 1704) became commander of an Imperial regiment (Obrister of his Roman Imperial Majesty) in 1678, the date engraved on the tankard. The images of Roman emperors are fitting for a military servant of the Emperor, and coincide with his promotion in 1696 to the rank of Field Marshall. In 1704, he led the Duke of Marlborough's assault at the Battle of Schellenberg (also known as the Battle of Donauwörth) during the War of the Spanish Succession where he was mortally wounded.

Sotheby's. Of Royal and Noble Descent. London | 23 Jan 2014 - www.sothebys.com