a silver-gilt carved ivory tankard, the drum attributed to Bernard Strauss, the mounts possibly by William Schröder of Lüneburg, circa 1640

the drum carved with a Bacchic scene, mounted on a silver gilt cup with finely engraved and embossed floral bands, a putto with a shield on the lid, stamped with an indistinct Lüneburg city mark and makers' mark WS on the lid and underside, numbered: No 289 on the underside

Baron Lionel de Rothschild.
Alfred de Rothschild, Halton House, Buckinghamshire.  

C. Davis, A Description of the works of art forming the collection of Alfred de Rothschild, London, 1884, no. 180

Overall the condition of the tankard is very good. There is some splitting to the top edge of the ivory consistent with material. There is some minor rubbing and tarnishing to the silver consistent with age. There is a small chip to the underside of the sleeve under the figure with the double flute. The putto on the lid is possibly associated and has been reattached.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The ivory drum on the present tankard belongs to a group of carvings decorated with Bacchic processions inspired by Pieter Paul Rubens or a painter from his circle. The swooning figure of Bacchus, leaning on a satyress or nymph as he is lead forward in a pageant of his playful followers is repeated in several known ivories. Examples from the group, which have originated from Flanders, Germany and France, are in several major collections, including: the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum in Brunswick and the Städtische Kunstsammlungen, Augsburg.

The closest comparison, however, is a carving formerly in the Hever Castle Collection (sold in these rooms 6 May 1983, lot 312) which is signed by the sculptor and goldsmith Bernard Strauss of Augsburg and dated 1656. The main difference between these two compositions is the appearance of the two beautifully carved nursing satyresses by a tree in the Rothschild tankard. These plump maternal figures, however, do appear on the Brunswick drum. The comparable and confident use of high relief on both the Hever Castle and Rothschild drums may suggest that Strauss was also responsible for the latter. The figures in both have similar, animated faces and a sense of weight. The maker's mark on the present tankard differs slightly from the mark only tentatively ascribed by Rosenberg (op.cit.) to William Schröder.

RELATED LITERATURE
Mark Rosenberg, Der Goldschmiede Merkzeichen, Frankfurt am Main, 1923, no. 3280; C. Scherer, Die Braunschweiger Elfenbeinsammlung. Katalog des Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museums in Braunschweig, Leipzig, 1931, p. 113, no. 359; O. Beigbeider, Ivory. Pleasures and treasures, New York, 1965, pp. 107-9; Les ivoires. Évolution décorative du Ier siècle a nos jours, Paris, 1966, p. 166