Ostrich
sculptor
Unknown
Date17th century
Place MadeGermany, Europe
MediumOstrich egg with silver mount
Dimensions45.5 cm (17 15/16 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberM21w7
Status
Not on viewWeb CommentaryThis silver ostrich cleverly uses an ostrich egg--considered exotic materials by its German maker--as its body. One theory speculates that these types of vessels, who's heads are detachable, were used in a drinking game. Not only would the consumer have trouble ingesting liquid from the narrow neck, but the ostrich's wings would flap their face. Isabella displayed two more ostrich eggs in the museum's galleries, although this is the only one with such remarkable craftsmanship and perhaps a history of practical jokes.
Id720283
Last Updated8/14/24
EmbARK ObjectID13391
Source ID2339
