The Rose Flower Cup () is a large silver-gilt communal drinking vessel, with two handles and a detached lid, holding six litres and weighting almost , presented to the later King

Christian IV of Denmark Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is the longest of Danish monarchs and Scandinavian monar ...

at his christening in 1577 by his godfather Hans Skovgaard and his wife Anne Parsberg. The name refers to a verse inscribed on the exterior of the vessel. It is now in the collection of the National Museum of Denmark.

History

Hans Skovgaard (15261580), one of King Frederick II's favourites, served as secretary of the Danish Chancellery and was generously rewarded with royal fiefs. In 1573, one year before marrying Anne Parsberg (15491582), against the wishes of the king, he retired from the royal court to his estate Gunderstrup in Scania. Frederick II nonetheless hosted his wedding at

Copenhagen Castle Copenhagen Castle ( da, Københavns Slot) was a castle on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built in the late 14th century and was located at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace. History In 1167, Bisho ...

and as a wedding present gave him a richly decorated silver tankard. When Frederik II and Queen

Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (''Sophia''; 4 September 1557 – 14 October 1631) was Queen of Denmark and Norway by marriage to Frederick II of Denmark. She was the mother of King Christian IV of Denmark and Anne of Denmark. She was Regent of Schl ...

had their first son, Christian (1577–1648), who would later succeed his father as Christian IV in 1588, Skovgaard was one of the prince's godfathers. At the christening, he and his wife presented the Queen, on the prince's behalf, with the large Rose Flower Cup. It is the only remaining gift of the godfathers. It is unclear who made the vessel. Bearing the maker's mark ''AE'' conjoined, it is however, somewhat cautiously, attributed to Royal Goldsmith and armour maker () Aelisaeus Englander.

Design

The Rose Flower Cup, which holds six litres (eight s) and has a weight of almost six kilos, is designed in the form of a generous barrel with two handles. Compared to normal

tankard A tankard is a form of drinkware consisting of a large, roughly cylindrical, drinking cup with a single handle. Tankards are usually made of silver or pewter, but can be made of other materials, for example wood, ceramic, or leather. A tankard ...

s, its second handle was a necessity due to its massive size. As is the case with so-called peg tankards, it is fitted on the inside with pegs at regular intervals to mark the quantity each person is supposed to drink. The exterior is decorated with hunting scenes, probably as a reference to Frederick III, who was an enthusiastic huntsman. Hans and Anne Skovgaard's coat of arms is also part of the decoration. A red and white rose has been interpreted as representing the union of the sun and the moon giving birth to the ''

Filius philosophorum The (Latin for "the philosophers' child", i.e. made by the true students of philosophy) is a symbol in alchemy. In some texts it is equated with the philosopher's stone (), but in others it assumes its own symbolic meanings. Other terms for th ...

''. A medallion on the interior of the cover, depicting David playing before King Saul, is most likely a reference to the recipient (Frederik) and the giver (Skovgaard). The exterior is also inscribed with the year ''1577'' as well as a verse:

References

External links

{{Commons category, Rosenblommen

Collection of the National Museum of Denmark Christian IV of Denmark 16th-century sculptures 1577 in Denmark Renaissance sculptures Silver-gilt objects Artworks in metal 1577 works Material culture of royal courts

History

Design

See also

References

Further reading

External links