Ferrn (Fern) family of Goldsmiths working in Nurnberg, Germany during the 2nd half of the 17th century. The maker’s mark SB over F in heart shield was attributed to the Sigmund Bierfreund, see Exh. Cat. Wenzel Jamnitzer und die Núrnberger Goldschmiedekunst 1500-1700, Nuremberg, 1985, no 182. Mark Rosenberg attributed the maker’s mark to a member of the Fern family and made the comment: master of the tulip cups. Tulip-shaped standing cups and covers were particular popular in the third-quarter of the 17th century. Rosenberg recorded ten cups, all manufactured by the same master silversmith. The one illustrated in the Wenzel catalogue, is a present from the German poet Sigmund von Birken to the poets’ society of Nuremberg Pegnesischen Blumenorden, and is now part of the collection of Germanisches National Museum, Nuremburg. Remarkable is that most of the cups mentioned by Rosenberg were spotted by him in distinguished collections of Russian origins, P. A. Kostchubey, Petersburg; Hermitage; Heinrich Herzog, Rossatz; Wilh von Stumm, Petersburg; Patriarchen-Schatzkammer, Moscow; Fúrstin Menschikow, Baden-Baden and Fürst Jussupow, Petersburg. Similar cups were sold by Sotheby’s Geneva, 14th May 1985, lot 221; 14th May 1988, lot 169.