BK-17109

About this artwork

hoogte 14,5 cm x breedte 30,7 cm (oor tot oor) x diameter 21,6 cm

Art Historical Context

**BK-17109 A Golden Treasure from circa 1650** This exquisite anonymous gold artwork, BK-17109, dates to around 1650 and stands as a testament to the era's masterful metalworking. Measuring 14.5 cm in height, 30.7 cm in width from handle to handle ("oor tot oor" in Dutch), and 21.6 cm in diameter, appears to be a handled cup or beaker—elegant in scale, perfectly suited for both display and use. Crafted entirely from gold, its compact yet substantial form highlights the luxury of the material, evoking the opulence of 17th-century elite households. In the context of the Dutch Golden Age, when prosperity fueled intricate craftsmanship, such gold vessels symbolized wealth and refinement. Goldsmiths of this period employed techniques like hammering, chasing, and possibly gilding to achieve durability and sheen, though the anonymous creator leaves us to admire the object's functional beauty without named flair. The precise dimensions suggest a practical design, balancing aesthetics with everyday ritual. Today, BK-17109 captivates as a rare survivor of perishable opulence, offering insight into cultural values of status and artistry. Its understated elegance invites visitors to ponder the hands that shaped it centuries ago. (198 words)

About the Artist

anonymous

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...