A Raeren stoneware tankard (Schnelle), dated 1583

Attributed to the workshop of Baldem Mennicken (active 1568-1592), of elongated cylindrical shape widened with concentric footrings and mouthpiece, the salt-glaze body with a centrally placed moulded diamond-shaped medallion enclosing a large double-headed Imperial Eagle, its crown flanked by the date 1583, the base of the rounded strap-handled with a stylised leaf,
26.5cm high,

Provenance:
With Jan Dirven Antiquairs;
with Edwin van Drecht;
European Private Collection

For a closely comparable Schnelle attributed to Baldem Mennicken with identical heraldic lozenge in the British Museum (Bernal Collection, 1855,1201.211) see D. Gaimster, German Stoneware 1200-1900, cat.no. 81., and for another Steinzeug und Zinn, Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt-am-Main, cat. 86.