A Basel silver-mounted Büttenmann figure
Above a gilt basal ring with finely chased acanthus decoration a prong-set earth mound base upon which stands the finely carved figure of a vintner resting on a staff, wearing a waistcoat and a pair of ripped and patched culottes. A little dog sits by his feet, scratching its ear. He holds a beaker in his left hand and the silver chain of the dog's leash in his right. The end of a sausage and other provisions can be seen sticking out of the top of his waistcoat and on his back he carries a large silver basket with a gilt interior. The basket unmarked, but produced contemporaneously and in the same workshop as the figure, according to the expertise by Prof. Richter in Freudental. The wooden sculpture monogrammed “HS” to the back of the hose. H 30.8 cm.
Marks of Hans Heinrich Oberried, c. 1660.
Prof. Richter writes in the summary of his expertise: “The goldsmith Oberried has (together with an as-yet unknown sculptor known only by the monogram HS) left behind an exceptional oeuvre of great historical and artistic interest.”
Provenance
According to the Roggenbach-Gayling-Stiftung in Schopfheim, this Büttenmann figure originates from the estate of the Knight of the Teutonic Order Johann Ludwig v. Roggenbach (1626 - 82), who was “Landkomtur” of the Ballei of Franken in Ellingen as of 1668. His brother Johann Conrad became Imperial Prince an Bishop of Basel in 1656.