A carved and embossed set made of maple and fruitwood, featu - Lot 69

A carved and embossed set made of maple and fruitwood, featuring 20 individual cups, presented in a case adorned with delicate moldings and embossed with crown and fleur-de-lis motifs. Bowl: stem consisting of a hollow cylinder enclosing a movable ball, a knot of stained fruitwood, numerous discs—four of which have serrated rims of varying diameters—and seven movable rings; base with compartmentalized decoration punctuated by stamped crowns; a fine flared bowl engraved with festoons holding about twenty cups of decreasing size and as thin as paper. Germany, Nuremberg or Berchtesgaden, mid-17th century Bowl, H. 14.5 cm Case, H. 18 cm Former inventory number and three small stamped crosses on the underside of the case. (some damage, restorations, and missing parts, including cups, cracks, and cups) A true technical feat, this cup was originally intended to hold about fifty cups, with some examples of this production capable of holding as many as a hundred. It is believed that a single piece of maple was required for this precision work, including the case. These objects were intended to inspire wonder at the craftsmanship and were therefore highly sought after as curiosities. They are primarily associated with the Nuremberg workshop, although some examples are also attributed to Berchtesgaden.