Kan met voorstellingen van de planeten

About this artwork

voet: diameter 9 cm

Art Historical Context

**Kan met voorstellingen van deen** (Jug with Representations of the Planets crafted by the renowned Nuremberg goldsmith Bartel Jamnitzer around1581, exemplifies the Renaissance mastery of intricate metalwork. Standing at 36.7 cm tall with a slender profile (14.5 cm wide and 9 cm deep, about 1,196 grams), this gilded vessel features a foot of 9 cm diameter, designed for both functionality and display. Jamnitzer, from a dynasty of celebrated goldsmiths, infused his creations with mathematical precision, drawing from his expertise in polyhedral geometry and perspective—as seen in his treatises *Perspectiva Corporum Regularum* (1568). The jug's surface likely bears engravings or embossings of planetary motifs, reflecting the era's fascination with astronomy and classical mythology amid the transition from Ptolemaic to Copernican worldviews. Gilding, a technique layering thin gold over a base metal like silver, not only enhanced durability and luster but symbolized opulence for elite patrons, evoking imperial treasures. This piece highlights Nuremberg's golden age of craftsmanship, blending art, science, and symbolism. Visitors will appreciate its delicate scale and celestial theme, a window into 16th-century intellectual curiosity and technical virtuosity. (198 words)