A Saxon goblet with the Siege of Gibraltar possibly Dresden, first half 18th century

the flared bowl engraved with a continuous scene of a ship firing on the town with military encampment nearby, inscribed GIBRALTAR above, the base cut with arched facets, over a faceted knopped stem and wide conical foot with folded rim

As a strategic port and fortification at the entrance to the Mediterannean, the British town of Gibraltar was constantly under siege during the 18th century. The second of the two sieges by Spain (and the thirteenth in its history) took place between February and June 1727. It is believed that this may be the depiction on the present lot. Depending on the sources, Spanish troops numbered between 12,000 and 25,000. British defenders were 1,500 at the beginning of the siege, increasing up to about 5,000. After a five-month siege with several unsuccessful and costly attacks, Spanish troops gave up their bombardment.