BK-17069

About this artwork

…; collection Eugen Gutmann (1840-1925), Munich, 1912;{Von Falke 1912, p. 14, no. 40, image 11.} …; from Dr Fritz Mannheimer (1890-1939), Amsterdam and Paris, fl. 6,350,000, en bloc, to Artistic & General Securities Ltd. as security for a loan from the Mendelssohn & Co. Bank, but kept in usufruct, 1934;{NHA, 476, RMA Archive, inv. no. 2142, Recapitulatie der geïnventariseerde kunstvoorwerpen van wijlen Dr F. Mannheimer, undated, p. 34, no. Pr 29, Artistic no. 15/25; NHA, 233, Arrondissem...

Art Historical Context

This delicate gold object, cataloged as BK-17069 and dating to circa 1600, stands at just 8.5 cm high and 2.9 cm wide. Crafted by an anonymous artisan, it reflects the masterful metalworking traditions of late Renaissance Europe, where gold malleability and enduring shine made it ideal for small-scale luxury items like jewelry, reliquaries, or decorative fittings. Such pieces often showcased intricate chasing, engraving, or repoussé techniques, symbolizing wealth and craftsmanship in an era of expanding trade and artistic refinement. Its historical journey adds profound significance. Once in ...

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...