MUSEUM-QUALITY SERPENTINE CHALICE WITH UNSCREWABLE INNER CUP.
Saxony; presumably Dresden. Ca. 1650.

Reddish black granite serpentine with three bands of vermeil mounting. Rounded; slightly domed base; a band of stylized leaf decor around the stand. Round shaft with compacted node; also decorated with a band of leaf decor. Ten-sided pear-shaped cuppa; tapering towards the base. High; rounded brim. High; domed lid with slightly constricted base. Crowned by a pommel. Corresponding leaf decor mountings on the brim of the cuppa. The inner part of the chalice contains a conical cylinder cup which can be unscrewed from the chalice itself. Height 26cm. Condition B. Shaft has been restored.
The inside of the lid contains an inventory sticker.

Provenance:
German collection; purchased at Blumka; New York.

Literature:
Gert-Dieter Ulfers. Sammlung Jahn; S鋍hsischer Serpentin. Weimar 2000. For this type with unscrewable inner cup; see p.62/63; cat.-no.32.
Eva Maria Hoyer. S鋍hsischer Serpentin. Ein Stein und seine Verwendung. Leipzig 1995. For this type; see p.53; p.234 and pg.235 cat.-no.81; a lidded chalice with an unscrewable inner cup from the Jahn collection.

The particular feature of this masterly crafted chalice is its surprising inner life. At the upper lip rim features a perfect-fit turned screwthread with which to screw in a small beaker. Chalices of this type have been maintained in several public collections. Not much is known today about their specific function. It is possible that it was used as a drinking game at table for wine and spirits. Another possibility is its use as tool for poison detection.Art trade; Van Ham.