Tankard

Art Historical Context

This elegant silver tankard, crafted in around 1670–75 by master silversmith Hermann Lamb with engravings attributed to the influential French artist Abraham Bosse, exemplifies the opulence of late Baroque metalwork. Standing at just over 9 inches tall, its partly gilt surface gleams with luxurious gold accents, a technique that highlighted wealth and craftsmanship in 17th-century Germany. Hamburg, a thriving Hanseatic port city, was renowned for such high-quality silver production, where tankards like this served as both functional drinking vessels—often for beer—and status symbols at feasts and civic gatherings. The collaboration between Lambrecht's expert chasing and embossing techniques and Bosse's intricate engravings likely featured allegorical or genre scenes, blending German solidity with French finesse. Gilding, achieved through fire-gilding or mercury amalgamation, not only protected the silver but added a radiant, jewel-like allure, making it a coveted heirloom. As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Decorative Arts collection, bequeathed by Irwin Untermyer in 1973, this tankard offers a window into the era's cross-cultural exchanges and the silversmith's pivotal role in Northern European luxury goods. (198 words)

About the Artist

Hermann Lambrecht|Abraham Bosse ( |French) · 1670 |1602 –1675 |1676

1670–1675|French, Tours 1602/04–1676 Paris