Mazer

Scotland

About 1580

  • Titles Mazer (Descriptive)
  • Medium silver and maple wood
  • Dimensions 5 5/8 × 7 3/8 in. Diam. (14.3 × 18.7 cm)
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Catherine H. Collins Collection, AFI.425.1998
  • Work Type mazer
  • Classification Containers

See More of the Collection

Planter, or flower pot, saucer of white jasper with light blue dip, the exterior with a band of morning glories on a vine, the interior left white.
Oval blue jasper medallion with white relief profile portrait of Alexander the great (356-323 BC). Alexander was a Greek soldier, son of Philip of Macedon, born in Pella, and educated by Aristotle. At an early age he showed military talent of a high order, crossing the Hellespont in 334 to defeat a Persian army led by Darius. He consolidated this victory by occupying Palestine, marching thence to Egypt where he was hailed as a deliverer from Persian tyranny. He founded Alexandria in 331 B.C., and again defeated Darius in the same year. By 329 he had reached the river of Jaxartes, and in 328 subdued the whole of Sogdiana. In 326 he attempted the conquest of India, establishing Greek colonies in the Punjab, and bringing Greek influence to the art in the East, Returning to Babylon he began to plan for further conquests, but was taken ill after a banquet and died eleven days later. His body deposited in Alexandria in a soldiers coffin.
Figure of Harlequin seated on a tree stump on small base decorated with green leaves and colorful flowers, wearing a gray hat, his costume half yellow and half checkered in shades of blue, red, and black, wearing underneath a white shirt with ruffled collar and cuffs, his left hand is raised to his face, thumbing his nose, while his right hand twists the tail of a monkey, which is pinned under his right leg
Obverse: Bust front holding the Ninety-Five Theses. Reverse with inscription.