bronze, sculpture
baroque
sculpture
bronze
figuration
sculpture
decorative-art
Dimensions: height 20.6 cm, diameter 12.1 cm, width 15.5 cm, weight 7823.1 gr, weight 3895.4 gr, weight 1965.7 gr, weight 982.4 gr, weight 490.6 gr, weight 244.8 gr, weight 122.4 gr, weight 60.9 gr, weight 30.46 gr, weight 15.23 gr, weight 7.67 gr, weight 3.74 gr
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This set of nested cup weights was crafted in bronze by Guilliam de Neve. Notice how its form is dominated by a cylindrical body, topped with a lid and ornamented with figures. The surface is a study in contrasts. The main body is decorated with rows of semi-circular patterns, suggesting a play with repetition and texture, while the figures on top—a mermaid, a child, and a dog-like creature— introduce elements of the fantastical and the grotesque, destabilizing any sense of classical harmony. Consider the handle: its elaborate curves and decorative finial disrupt the functional simplicity we might expect. This piece can be seen as challenging fixed meanings, reflecting a broader shift in artistic and philosophical thought. The intricate designs and the choice of mythical figures can be interpreted as engaging with new ways of thinking about representation.
Comments
The container with a cover houses ten weights of different dimensions used to weigh silver according to a precise system. The ornamentation near the clasp below the dog’s head displays the – at the time ultra modern – auricular style, which was used primarily for silver objects. The remaining design and decorations agree entirely with the nesting weights that were produced in the German city of Nuremberg.
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