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Augsburg, 17th century - Adolf GAAP (act. 1664-1695)
See original version (French)
Augsburg, 17th century - Adolf GAAP (act. 1664-1695)
See original version (French)
Lot no. 46
Augsburg, 17th century - Adolf GAAP (act. 1664-1695)
Toilet box with portrait of Theophrastus
Silver box, oval shape, the body embossed with interlacing flowers in a rotating frieze, the lid decorated with a bas-relief embossed portrait of the philosopher Theophrastus, surrounded by a braid of laurel in the manner of a medallion, and wavy border. Letters "AELFVZ" engraved under the base.
Master goldsmith: Adolf Gaap, appointed master goldsmith in Augsburg in 1664, he was active until 1695. A number of his works are preserved, notably covered goblets (Jewish Museum in Prague, Princely Hohenzollern Museum, Sigmaringen, State Museum of Württemberg, Stuttgart).
Augsburg, probably 1688-1989 (Seling no. 0940) or 1691-1695 (Seling no. 1010)
H. 6.5 - W. 10 - D. 11 cm
Weight : 172,2 g
(Wear, small dents).
An identically described toilet box of the same dimensions by Adolf Gaap, but with a portrait of the Greek philosopher Carneades on the lid, Christie's Geneva sale 30 September 1996, lot no. 211. Estimate CHF 1,200 - CHF 1,800; result: CHF 1,265.
Theophrastus (c. 372 - 288 BC) was a Greek philosopher born in Eresos (Lesbos). A disciple of Aristotle, he succeeded him in 322 BC as head of the Lyceum of Athens, which he ran until his death. He is best known as the father of botany, thanks to his treatises Recherches sur les plantes and Des causes des phénomènes végétaux. He was also interested in mineralogy, zoology, meteorology and ethics. Among his writings, the most famous are Les Caractères, portraits of human types that influenced European moral literature, notably La Bruyère.
Bibliography:
- Helmut Seling, Die Augsburger Gold- und Silberschmiede 1529-1868: Meister, Marken, Werke, Munich, 2007.
See original version (French)
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