Ibex horn ewer, 1748. Kunsthammer Georg Laue, Munich. TEFAF Maastricht 2012

Dating from 1758, this cup was made for the court of Salzburg, as only members of the court were permitted to hunt the Alpine ibex, a horned goat-like creature. The cup is carved with hunting scenes and floral decorations typical of the Baroque period. Signed by Martin Gizl, the cup is priced at $471,000. “I’m seeing both private collectors and museums as well seeking kunstkammer objects made from exotic materials,” says Laue. Because of the fragile nature of exotic materials like ibex horn, many examples were never used. Driving the price is demand, which was borne out by results in Christie’s celebrated Yves St. Laurent sale.