Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

Lot 18

A Bohemian pewter-mounted and enamelled flask, dated 1590

2 May 2013, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £3,250 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Private & Iconic Collections and House Sales specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

A Bohemian pewter-mounted and enamelled flask, dated 1590

The globular form of bluish-green tint painted with the kneeling figure of Samson holding an animal's bone from which flows water, inscribed SAMSON 1590, the reverse with lily-of-the valley, applied on the shoulder and below the rim of the tall cylindrical neck with two light-blue circular trails, inscribed 1*5*9*0* below a wavy border, the rim with the remains of a gilt band between two white dotted line borders, over an everted double-walled foot, the scroll handle with hinged cover with acorn finial, kick-in base, 19.8cm high (handle restuck)

Footnotes

The image is taken from the Old Testament (Judges 15:14-19) and relates to Samson's slaying of the Philistines by wielding an ass's jawbone. According to the Biblical story, he slew a thousand of them until they lay 'heaps upon heaps'. After this labour God caused water to flow from the jawbone for him to quench his thirst. The curious incident of water flowing from the bone has been explained as a mistranslation. In the original Hebrew Samson drank from a spring whose name signified 'jaw'.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

A remarkable façon de Venise reverse-painted glass picture, late 16th century

A façon de Venise wine glass, late 16th or early 17th century

A façon de Venise wine glass, second half 17th century

A remarkable Venetian latticinio plate or charger, late 17th century

A fine Silesian engraved beaker of 'Koula' type, Riesengebirge (Hirschberger Tal), late 17th century

A Bohemian engraved wine glass, early 18th century

A Bohemian engraved hunting beaker of 'Koula' type, late 17th century

A remarkable Potsdam engraved goblet by Gottfried Spiller, circa 1700-10

A fine Potsdam engraved goblet attributed to the workshop of Elias Rosbach, circa 1725-30

An early Bohemian engraved baluster goblet, circa 1700

A Dutch engraved armorial goblet, second quarter 18th century

A massive Bohemian engraved 'Four Seasons' beaker, late 17th century

A very rare Zechlin gilded and engraved Royal double portrait goblet and cover, circa 1733-35

An impressive Potsdam-Berlin engraved goblet and cover attributed to Elias Rosbach, circa 1735-40

A Dutch engraved goblet and cover, the glass Saxon, second quarter 18th century