Asset number
1275263001
Description
Goblet, silver-gilt, depicting walled city under siege. Double-walled with plain silver inner wall forming raised lip, gilded and engraved with foliate scroll. Outer wall ornamented with embossed, chased and engraved scenes and decorative motifs in low relief, culminating in three lions'-head feet at base. In centre of base is a roundel chased with acanthus leaves in low relief. Bottom of outer wall depicts scenes from the Old Testament, partially interrupted by laurel-wreaths surrounding three roundels of classical heads. Surface above portrays in perspective an army laying siege on horseback to a fortified city. Some horses depicted in profile, others represented full-face with heads projecting outwards in extreme high relief, with numerous horsemen seen from behind, with horses' rumps projecting. The undulating landscape is filled with tents, buildings and groups of soldiery, whilst beneath the city walls a large force of European cavalry in armour are attacking with long lances, causing camels to stampede towards the tents. Inscribed and marked.
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