Object details
Accession number
M26n16
Primary Creator
Norwegian
Full title
Beaker
Creation Date
18th century
Provenance
Probably purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner on her trip to Norway in 1867.
Marks
Maker's mark (bottom): possibly an “R” or a “B” relating to the city of Bergen
Maker's mark (bottom): the Bergen gate over seven balls [the traditional Norwegian silver hallmark]
Dimensions
13 cm (5 1/8 in.)
Display Media
Silver
Web Commentary
This Norwegian silver beaker is called a berger to describe a footed drinking vessel that is stemmed or conical. Decorated with lions—a symbol of Norway—and cupids, several beads dangle from the middle band.This style of silver drinking vessel originated in Northern Germany and is often referred to as hansabeger or Hanseatic beaker—for the Hanseatic League, a medieval organization of merchants who dominated European trade from the 13th–15th centuries. Although they have Germanic origins, bergers were heavily produced in the Norwegian city of Bergen throughout the 15th–17th centuries. Isabella Stewart Gardner probably purchased this beaker in 1867 on a trip in Norway with her husband Jack. After Jack’s death in 1898, Isabella kept fresh flowers in the cup in his memory. The Museum continues this tradition today.
Permanent Gallery Location
Titian Room
Bibliography
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 226.
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