Nautilus Cup, South Germany, ca. 1550 - ca. 1600, silver, nautilus shell. H 30.5 cm × W 9.3 cm × 7.9 cm d. BK-17 009. Rijskmuseum, Amsterdam

Nautilus Cup with gilded silver mounts in the form of a crane. The bird stands on one leg and clutching a white silver orb in the other. Along the mouth rim of the shell engraved hunting scenes. The base consists of six radially placed dragons. 

A crane with a raised right paw and claw his silver ball refers to vigilance. The story goes that when cranes gathered to rest, there is always one animal was put on hold with a stone in his claw. When he fell asleep, he would release the stone and would be the sound of the falling stone give the birds.