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Wine decanter

ca. 1780
Not on view
This decanter was used to serve mulled wine. The sculpted snake holding an apple in its mouth and resting on the scroll handle symbolizes temptation, serving as a warning not to drink too much. Restrained gilded lines emphasize the decanter’s harmonious form, and the spectacular design clearly signals the imagination and technical ability of the artist, who transformed valuable metal into a work of art. Less than a dozen related vessels have survived. Ambassador Salgo owned a second example (acc. no. 2010.110.61a, b). Another decanter is owned by the Prince of Liechtenstein and is prominently displayed in the family’s palace in Vienna.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Wine decanter
  • Maker: Simon Petrus Conrad (master 1771, active until 1793)
  • Date: ca. 1780
  • Culture: Hungarian, Nagyszeben
  • Medium: Silver, partly gilded
  • Dimensions: Overall: 13 11/16 x 4 1/8 in. (34.8 x 10.5 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Silver
  • Credit Line: Gift of The Salgo Trust for Education, New York, in memory of Nicolas M. Salgo, 2010
  • Object Number: 2010.110.62a, b
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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