South German Silver Filigree Casket with Inset Reliefs.

17th or Early 18th Century.

Size14.5 x 13.1 x 6,5 cm.

Schell Collection Wiener Strasse, Graz, Austria.

https://www.schell-collection.com/objekt-des-monats/objekt-des-monats-juni/#_ftn8

Museum Inventory Number. Nr. 7112.

Since putting this post together I have discovered several similar caskets in European Collections, see my later post -

see - https://antiqueeuropeanfiligree.blogspot.com/2023/01/candlestick-17th-century-schabisch-gmund.html

The Museum website suggests that the inlaid pieces might be later inserts - substituting for miniature enamel plaques but to my eye they appear original.

I think that this piece is most likely South German - perhaps Augsberg, Nuremberg or Schwabisch Gmund.

Schell Collection.Wienerstraße 10

8020 Graz

Tel: +43 316 / 76 61 77

Fax: +43 316 / 76 61 77

E-Mail: museum@schell-collection.com

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Female Workers in Filigree.

Maria Schaffhauser.

Not relevant to this specific object but included as part of the description -

It is interesting that an excerpt from the Stadtlexikon Augsburg was found during research, which tells of a female silver filigree worker. Maria Rosina Schaffhauser (née Kisel), born around 1680 in Tübingen and residing at Zeuggasse 16 in Augsburg, is mentioned here as a silver filigree worker. 

Maria married the goldsmith Johann Matthäus (III), Schaffhauser in 1705. Whether through her husband's job or other circumstances, she rose to become a silver filigree worker. It is said that she was authorized to independently carry out work in silver filigree, made jewellery, rosary beads, boxes and settings for church utensils. It is also said that there were only a few workshops in this special area of the goldsmith's craft in Augsburg that were active.