Sapieha beaker
Encyclopedia
The silver Sapieha beaker is a 16th-century beaker
, which originally belonged to Grygor Sapieha and was made in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. The Sapieha
family played an important role in Lithuania's history
through much of the 16th century. In 2007 the beaker was auctioned at Christie's
London for £132,500. At the time the purchaser remained anonymous.
part gilt beaker was made in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania around 1560. Its height is 19.7 centimetres (7.8 in) and total weight is 550 grams (19 oz).
The beaker's form is a waisted cylinder with flared lip; the border to the flat base is engraved with gilded foliage and encircled by two mystical animals, which resemble serpents. Their scaly tails coil round a moon-shaped face, their bodies engraved with inscription and with foliage at the points they cross. The early Slavonic language inscription reads: This cup was made for master Gregory of Orsha, for friendship to those who drink from it for the good of their souls, in the year 1560, the month of March, on the first day. The beaker is also engraved with a heart-shaped pendant and double cross. Christie's experts suggest that an early version of Sapieha's coat of arms is depicted on the beaker.
It is believed that the beaker belonged to Grygor Sapieha, younger brother of Lew Sapieha
. Likely this beaker was presented as a christening present. Later the beaker changed hands and in the early 20th century it finally appeared in the collection of Eugéne Lubovitch. The Sapieha beaker was exhibited in a number of venues, including "L'Art Russe: Exposition d'Icones et d'Orfévreries Russes", 1931 (Brussels
and Ghent
); "Argenterie Russe Ancienne de la Collection Eugéne Lubovitch", 1932 (Paris); "Exhibition of Russian Art", 1935 (London). In 1978 it was auctioned at Sotheby's
Zürich
. In 2007 the beaker was sold at Christie's for £132,500 (US$274,408), to an anonymous buyer.
as a gift to Lithuania. The presentation ceremony was held in the Presidential Palace, Vilnius
. Adamkus thanked the businessmen and noted that "A historic relic, a beaker of the 16th century, comes back to Lithuania. This means that Lithuania becomes richer, more spiritually than financially". The Head of State added that "In the years of occupation, cultural wealth was pillaged off museums, churches and archives; therefore, every testimony of history that comes back to Lithuania is exceptional to us". Brothers Ortiz asked that the beaker be displayed publicly so that the people of Lithuania could have access to it. The beaker was placed in the custody of the Lithuanian Art Museum
, and will be exhibited in the Royal Palace of Lithuania
.
Beaker (drinkware)
A beaker is a beverage container, and a term used in parts of the UK. A beaker is typically a non-disposable plastic or ceramic cup or mug without a handle, much like a laboratory beaker....
, which originally belonged to Grygor Sapieha and was made in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. The Sapieha
Sapieha
The Sapieha is a Polish-Lithuanian princely family descending from the medieval boyars of Smolensk. The family acquired great influence in the sixteenth century.-History:...
family played an important role in Lithuania's history
History of Lithuania
The history of Lithuania dates back to at least 1009, the first recorded written use of the term. Lithuanians, a branch of the Baltic peoples, later conquered neighboring lands, establishing the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and in the 13th century the short-lived Kingdom of Lithuania. The Grand Duchy...
through much of the 16th century. In 2007 the beaker was auctioned at Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
London for £132,500. At the time the purchaser remained anonymous.
Beaker
The unmarked silverSilversmith
A silversmith is a craftsperson who makes objects from silver or gold. The terms 'silversmith' and 'goldsmith' are not synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product varies greatly as does the scale of objects created.Silversmithing is the...
part gilt beaker was made in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania around 1560. Its height is 19.7 centimetres (7.8 in) and total weight is 550 grams (19 oz).
The beaker's form is a waisted cylinder with flared lip; the border to the flat base is engraved with gilded foliage and encircled by two mystical animals, which resemble serpents. Their scaly tails coil round a moon-shaped face, their bodies engraved with inscription and with foliage at the points they cross. The early Slavonic language inscription reads: This cup was made for master Gregory of Orsha, for friendship to those who drink from it for the good of their souls, in the year 1560, the month of March, on the first day. The beaker is also engraved with a heart-shaped pendant and double cross. Christie's experts suggest that an early version of Sapieha's coat of arms is depicted on the beaker.
It is believed that the beaker belonged to Grygor Sapieha, younger brother of Lew Sapieha
Lew Sapieha
Lew Sapieha . He was born in Astrouna , near Vitsebsk, Belarus. He became Great Secretary of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1580, Great Clerk of the Grand Duchy in 1581, Court Chancellor of the GDL in 1585, Grand Chancellor of the GDL from 1589 until 1623, Voivode of Vilnius in 1621, Great...
. Likely this beaker was presented as a christening present. Later the beaker changed hands and in the early 20th century it finally appeared in the collection of Eugéne Lubovitch. The Sapieha beaker was exhibited in a number of venues, including "L'Art Russe: Exposition d'Icones et d'Orfévreries Russes", 1931 (Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
); "Argenterie Russe Ancienne de la Collection Eugéne Lubovitch", 1932 (Paris); "Exhibition of Russian Art", 1935 (London). In 1978 it was auctioned at Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. In 2007 the beaker was sold at Christie's for £132,500 (US$274,408), to an anonymous buyer.
Gift to Lithuania
In June 2008 it was revealed that it had been bought by the Belgian businessmen brothers Ortiz, founders of Iki supermarkets, who have been living in Lithuania for the past decade. On June 12, 2008 George, Nicolas and Oliver Ortiz presented the beaker to Lithuania's president Valdas AdamkusValdas Adamkus
Valdas Adamkus was President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009.In Lithuania, the President's tenure lasts for five years; Adamkus' first term in office began on February 26, 1998 and ended on February 28, 2003, following his defeat by Rolandas Paksas in the next...
as a gift to Lithuania. The presentation ceremony was held in the Presidential Palace, Vilnius
Presidential Palace, Vilnius
The Presidential Palace , located in Vilnius Old Town, is the official office and eventual official residence of the President of Lithuania. The palace dates back to the 14th century and during its history it has undergone various reconstructions, supervised by prominent architects, including...
. Adamkus thanked the businessmen and noted that "A historic relic, a beaker of the 16th century, comes back to Lithuania. This means that Lithuania becomes richer, more spiritually than financially". The Head of State added that "In the years of occupation, cultural wealth was pillaged off museums, churches and archives; therefore, every testimony of history that comes back to Lithuania is exceptional to us". Brothers Ortiz asked that the beaker be displayed publicly so that the people of Lithuania could have access to it. The beaker was placed in the custody of the Lithuanian Art Museum
Lithuanian Art Museum
The Lithuanian Art Museum was initially established in Vilnius in 1933 as the Vilnius City Museum. It houses Lithuania's largest art collection.-History:...
, and will be exhibited in the Royal Palace of Lithuania
Royal Palace of Lithuania
The Royal Palace of Lithuania was a palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, built in the 15th century for the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Royal Palace in the Lower Castle evolved over the years and prospered during the 16th and mid-17th centuries. For four centuries the Palace was the...
.
External links
- Video from ceremony. Retrieved on 2008-06-13