Green Vault

DRESDEN.- An initial inspection of the jewels stolen from the Historisches Grünes Gewölbe (Historic Green Vault) and now handed over to Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD) has shown that despite some damage to individual pieces, this has not diminished either their important place in art history or their international appeal. As the items of jewellery are still being used as evidence in the criminal proceedings, they may not yet be exhibited in public.As an SKD restorer testified at the main hearing on Tuesday,... [Lire la suite]

Rose water basin, Gujarat (India), the mounts: Nuremberg or Antwerp, around 1540. Silver, driven, cast, chased, hallmarked, gilded, wood, painted green on a cream background (basin), copper (pot), mother-of-pearl, cut. Diameter: 56 cm, H 8,6 cm; Weight: 4911 g. Green Vault, IV 181. © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. The pompous basin covered with mother-of-pearl tiles and the corresponding pot of the same material (IV 256) were imported to southern Germany via Portuguese traders from Gujarat in north-western India. In... [Lire la suite]

Mother-of-pearl jug, Gujarat (India), the mounts: Nuremberg or Antwerp, around 1540. Silver, driven, cast, chased, hallmarked, gilded, copper (pot), mother-of-pearl, cut. H 29.0 cm, W 23.3 cm, dia foot 15.9 cm; Weight: 1392 g. Green Vault, IV 256. © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. The jug, densely covered with mother-of-pearl tiles, and the pomp of the same material (IV 181) were imported to southern Germany via Portuguese traders from Gujarat in north-western India. In Nuremberg or Antwerp, around 1540, the two... [Lire la suite]

Wine jug, Germany, around 1550. Gold, enamel, 7 diamonds, 14 rubies. Height 16.9 cm, width 8.5 cm, weight 301 g. Green Vault, 41. © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. The small communion pot is made of pure gold and carries on the foot, "belly" and lid colored enamelled ornament, which is set with diamonds and rubies in high box settings. The smooth Kopus stands out brilliantly from the colored relief. The shape of the decor dates back to the middle of the 16th century. A black enamelled V (Vinum) on the front... [Lire la suite]

Coconut Cup with scenes from the story of the prodigal son, probably Nuremberg, mid-16th century. Coconut, carved, silver, gilded. H 28.0 cm, dia cup 13.2 cm, dm foot 11.0 cm; Weight: 693 g. Green Vault, IV 330. © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. The "Native American" nuts imported from Central and South America have been processed by Western European goldsmiths into precious and imaginative drinking vessels since the second half of the 16th century, three examples of which are gathered here. The serving as Kuppa... [Lire la suite]

Owl as a drinking vessel, Southern Germany, around 1540. Silver, gilded, reverse glass painting, enamel. H 45.0 cm. Green Vault, IV 302. © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden  Although the owl is rendered in a very stylized way, the extremely fine chiselling of the plumage and the effective alternation between gilded and non-gilded parts are impressive. The cover figure in the shape of an ancient warrior presents a shield with the Saxon-Saxon alliance coat of arms in reverse glass painting, which... [Lire la suite]

Glass mug with enamel painting (polo player on horseback), Glass and stained glass: Syria, around 1300. Colorless glass, enamel, silver, gilded. Height 19.9 cm; Diameter of vessel rim 11.2 cm; Dm foot 10.2 cm. Green Vault, IV 193. © Dresden State Art Collections. Almost throughout the Middle Ages, the southern Mediterranean region dominated by Islam was culturally far superior to the West. This is also evidenced by this masterpiece with enamel painting, created in the heyday of the Syrian glass industry around... [Lire la suite]

  Glass mug with enamel painting (heron hunting), Glass and stained glass: Syria, around 1300. Colorless glass, enamel, silver, gilded. H 34.9 cm; Dm lid 13.2 cm; Dm foot 13.5 cm. Green Vault, IV 192. © Dresden State Art Collections.

Family Tree Christi, so-called "Adder Tree", Germany (probably Nuremberg), around 1500. Silver, partly gilded, shark teeth, 19.5 x 10.2 x 10.3 cm, 364 g. Green Vault, IV 108. © Dresden State Art Collections. In the lush middle blossom of a little tree, Mary is enthroned with the baby Jesus in front of a large shark tooth. Between the strong foliage, six thin stalks of flowers protrude, at the ends of which sheathed shark teeth, so-called snappers, hang. At the foot of the tree, a man is asleep, while a dragon crawls... [Lire la suite]

Cabinet piece with the portrait cameo of a Roman emperor, Johann Melchior Dinglinger (1664-1731), Jeweler & Balthasar Permoser (1651-1732), sculptor, Dresden, before 1722; Cameo: Roman, probably 41 AD. Onyx cameo, ivory, cameo, gold, precious stones, pearls, gold plated silver, agate, jasper, enamel. H 44.0 cm; Onyx cameo: H 13.0 cm, W 10.0 cm. Green Vault, V 1. © Dresden State Art Collections. In February 1722 Johann Melchior Dinglinger delivered two works to the Green Vault, both of which have the majesty and the... [Lire la suite]