Description

An interesting piece of early German silver with a tobacco smoking scene to the centre. Original gilt interior. The little dish, or wine taster, has scalloped borders and scrolled side handles. Embossed to the centre is the figure of a man in 17th century clothing and smoking a giant pipe; a brazier stands on the table to the left. The cartouche is formed from embossed dots and foliage in typical 17th century style.

Weight 95 grams, 3 troy ounces.
Width across handles 13.15cm. Height 3.1cm. Top 12.8cm.
German silver hallmarks stamped around the edge for Augsburg circa 1700.
Maker probably “IK” unidentified.

The style and subject are of the period circa 1650 however we’ve been unable to exactly match the Augsburg mark or identify the maker. Because of this we’ve conservatively dated the piece as circa 1700.

Literature. Tobacco was introduced into Europe circa 1580 however the first tobacco box, with the typical oval form and dome top pull off lid, did not appear until circa 1650. A smoker required a table to set out his “equipment” which included a long stemmed pipe and a pair of ember tongs.