Circa 1500s NUREMBERG, GERMANY BRASS EMPEROR CICERON BUST ALMS BASIN 

16th Century brass alms basin with a relief bust of Cicero with the inscription: 'MARCV. TVLIVS. CIC-ERO. CONS'  embossed with stylized floral motifs, Latin script and the Roman emperor Ciceron with in deep-sided gadrooned borders. Sold at Christy’s Auction. 

Circa: 1500s 

Diameter: 25 1/2 cm 

Deep: 6 cm

Condition: Excellent, Fine  

Nuremberg, Germany 

THE BASIN-BEATERS OF NUREMBERG 

The City of Nuremberg was unique in that its trades were not grouped into guilds but were administered by the town council, a select group of powerful mercantile familes. This system fostered an early form of capitalism which made the city the most important in Europe for the metalworking trades. Sheet brass was worked into the correct shape and trimmed on a lathe. Decoration was then applied by iron punches and metal stamps. The subjects found on basins are scenes from classical antiquity, scenes from the Old or New Testament and allegorical motifs, and in this piece, floral motifs and the Roman Emperor Ciceron.