A rare 17th century German, Lower Saxony silver and parcel-gilt small tankard, maker's mark IF in a heart-shaped punch and town mark - dexter side a leaping hart and sinister side a rampant griffin, the latter being the town mark for Hesse, circa 1689. Photo Bonhams.

Finely engraved with "Dutch" blooms between a narrow and wide plain band, and applied with lower band of lozenge motifs, the body, cover and base set with various coins from Lower Saxony, terminating in an engraved domed foot, cast eagle thumbpiece to cover and beaded rat-tail to handle, engraved under base "DENCKMAHL. TREVER. MVTTER. LIEBE BEGP.M.GF. 1676 -1689", also incuse stamped "RBF", height 10.2cm, weight 9.5oz. Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 (€10,000 - 15,000). Unsold

Notes: As there has been no firm identication on the "town", there is a strong possiblity that the "town" mark could possible be a family crest or coat of arms.

Bonhams. FINE SILVER AND GOLD BOXES, London, New Bond Street, 18 Jun 2014 - www.bonhams.com