A silver mounted relief carved ivory tankard 19th century german work

The body of the mug is carved in high relief and depicts a hunting scene. This hunting scene, known as grande vénerie, takes place in an oak forest. A huntsman holding a horn in his hand and a pack of hounds at his feet has sounded the death knell. Dogs and stags are carved in full movement. The hinged lid is surmounted by a stag. The handle is adorned with a female figure with a sheath, carved in the round. The base is adorned with a wreath of oak leaves symbolising the honour paid to the hunted stag. The silver mount is used to join the various ivory pieces and its finely chiselled decoration incorporates the decorative elements of rocaille art: shells, asymmetrical volutes and rocaille.This tankard was inspired by the Ausbourg ‘tankards’, symbols of the German aristocracy.The ivory is slightly missing. Germanic work from the second half of the 19th century.