SHOWCASE 40. AUGSBURG BAROQUE ART

The Armoury possesses the world's largest collection of works executed by Augsburg silversmiths, which consists of more than four hundred magnificent items from the 16th to the early 18th century. The showcased exhibits reveal typical features of the baroque style in silverware as well as the evolution of its ornamentation and peculiarities of local schools of silversmithing.

The industry of jewellery-making and metalworking flourished in Augsburg thanks to its favourable geographical position at the intersection of trade routes. Between 1525 and 1575 there was about a hundred gold- and silversmiths working there. Their works came to be in great demand. The goblets, figured ewers, fireplace decorations and wine vessels of varied forms present a high technique of execution, fine ornament and delicate proportions. Like Nuremberg, Augsburg was the city where jewellery-making skills were passed on from generation to generation. The Armoury collection includes silverware made by several members of the Drentwett family, whose articles were known and popular in many countries.

The Augsburg makers, satisfying the requirements of fashion of their epoch, made an important contribution to interior design and development of decorative elements for walls, tables, fireplaces. The sumptuousness of palaces and court ceremonies led to the appearance of massive silver tableware, figured vases and vessels, baskets and mugs in the baroque style. Predominating were foliate motifs and many variations on the auricular-style ornament typical of baroque. The makers were famed for silver furniture of massive forms made for palace rooms. We can see two large mirrors in silver frames by Abraham Drentwett II and silver tables executed at the beginning of the 18th century by Johann Engelbrent. The mirror and the tables are decorated with splendid chasing and casting in the baroque style.