This is a late 17th Century 'Snakeskin' Beaker

Circa 1690, Ausburg

Maker's Mark of Paul Solanier

Faded Silver Gilt

Height: 8.1cm (3.2in)

Diameter at top: 7cm (2.75in)

This is a beautiful and rare example of a silver gilt snake skin beaker made in Augsburg at the end of the 17th century by one of the most important Augsburg silversmiths, Paul Solanier. He was among the most gifted masters in the German imperial city of Augsburg, a leading producer of silver objects. As well as complicated display pieces, his workshop produced a great deal of utilitarian silver.

There is an almost identical beaker, also by Solanier, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. See final image on the dark grey background.