Important Silversmiths - Neresheimer & Sohne
19th Century German silver-gilt lidded tankard, in the style of the early 17th century examples, beautifully chased and embossed with a very detailed and crowded boar and stag hunting scene, depicting Diana the huntress. The large and elaborate c-shaped handle mounted with a lion shield thumbpiece, the lobed lower body standing on four pierced ball shaped feet and lid surmounted with a realistically modelled figure of Diana and hound.
Hallmarked with German Hanau pseudo-marks used by B. Neresheimer & Sohne, Hanau.
Reference Number: A5320
Neresheimer & Sohne is undoubtedly the most famous of the Hanau silversmiths working at the end of the 19th century.
At the end of the 19th century in fact, the city of Hanau, not far from Frankfurt in Germany, became famous for its silver industry tradition: Hanau manufacturers specialised in fine copies from the antique, in the most popular historical styles, generally marked with pseudo-hallmarks in the manner they were trying to imitate. Unlike the traditional hallmarks, pseudo hallmarks are not officially registered and the only way to identify Hanau artworks is by comparison with marked pieces.
The company was founded in 1890 by August and Ludwig Neresheimer. Thanks to the incredible quality of its objects, of the precision and care used to make extraordinary copies from the antique the brand rose to a quick popularity and became soon direct competitor of Schleissner, considered the forefather of the Hanau silver.
20th Century pair of large and fine German silver figures, each modelled as a knight in full suits of armour, carved face beneath a hinged visor, one sporting a sword and the other a spiked axe, both holding a shield applied and chased with armorials. Hallmarked with German Hanau silver peudo marks (900+ standard), Maker's mark "n" for the firm Neresheimer & Sohne.
