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Unknown Maker, German

Owl Beaker
Now On View

Maker

Unknown Maker, German

Culture

German

Title

Owl Beaker

Year

1556

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

silver, shell

Geography

Place Made: Germany

Dimensions

22.9 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm (9 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Around the neck of the head: "VERBUM. DOMINI. MANET. IN. ETERNUM 1556" On neck of the body: "ALS. ALE. FOEGELEN. SIN. TENIST. SO. IS. DIE. FLEGEN. ANT. ALER. BIST." "VERBUM. DOMINI. MANET. IN. ETERNUM 1556" would be "The word of the Lord endures forever, 1556."

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Miss Ellen D. Sharpe and Mrs. Murray S. Danforth

Object Number

52.533

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

European Galleries
Sep 02, 2017

Label copy

This beaker’s wondrous design features flappable wings and a detachable head that serves as both cap and cup. Formed of a natural coconut-shell body with precious gilded silver mounts, it stands on delicate legs, stabilized by the tail. Unusual objects like this were collected by European nobles for their kunstkammers, or cabinets of curiosities. Coconuts-shipped from India and South and Central America-were rare in the 1500s in northern Germany but valued as medicinal and restorative. Coconut milk was considered a remedy or an aphrodisiac.

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, German
Owl Beaker, 1556
Coconut shell and silver with gilding
22.9 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm (9 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 inches)
Gift of Miss Ellen D. Sharpe and Mrs. Murray S. Danforth 52.533

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