Esaias zur Linden, Ship

"Nuremberg was a major German centre for the production of silver items, and one of the leading masters in the first quarter of the 17th century was Zur Linden, who mainly produced cups in the form of ships in Baroque style. Several examples of his work are to be found in the Hermitage. This particular ship is the largest of all the master's known works. It is gilded, with silver sails on which we can see the sun and moon. Cannon stand upon the deck. On the prow is a pavilion with a female figure. The foot is in the form of Neptune sailing in a shell through the watery deep."