Attributed to the Maucher family workshop South German, late 17th century

Bernard Black and Hughes Nadeau, Monte Carlo

Black & Nadeau Gallery exh. Catalogue,  Sculpture and Works of Art 1500 to 1900, Monte Carlo 1980 , cat.14

Overall the condition of the ivory is good, with minor wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. There is minor stable hairline splitting to the ivory consistent with the material, notably to the elephant. There is also a circular ivory plug to the elephant's back. There are a few minor losses, including to the tip of the elephant's proper right tusk, the lion's tail (on the shaft), the ox's tail, one of the deer's antlers, and behind the monkey; the latter may however be an original lacuna. There are a few small holes or lacunae to the haunches and one of the feet of the lions on the quillon; these may have naturally occurred in the ivory. There is some minor greening in the crevices of the quillon. The shaft twists slightly in its setting but is stable. There is some wear to the metal mount, including some oxidation. There is a rectangular cavity to the underside of the cross-guard with which the ivory slides on the perspex stand. The perspex stand is in good condition with minor general wear such as a few scratches.
"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."

This intricately carved ivory finial was made as the hilt for a hunting sword or dagger and would have formed part of a ceremonial or presentation set. Formerly attributed to Johann Michel Maucher in the Black & Nadeau Gallery catalogue, it can be more closely compared with work attributed to his brother Christoph Maucher.  The horizontal quillon is composed of two addorsed lions each holding a sphere; the shaft with a lion attacking a hound, a bear attacking a goat, a leaping bull, a stag, a boar, a monkey, the whole surmounted by an elephant perched on the top. The silver ferrule is cast with a lioness. The designs with their crowded depiction of hunting animals appeared to be inspired by the prints of Hans Collaert as illustrated by Ehmer (op.cit., figs. 128-134).

RELATED LITERATURE
R.Berliner, Die Bildwerke in Elfenbein, Knochen, Hirsch-und Steinbockhorn, cat. Bayerisches Nationalmuseums, Munich, 1926, nos. 212-215, 832-837; A. Ehmer, Die Maucher, Eine Kunsthandwerkefamilie des 17.jahrhunderts aus Schwabisch Gmund, Schwabisch Gmund, 1992, pp.168-169, fig.138, p.206