Facsimile of Small Lion Tankard (Lower German (?), c. 1540) c. 1900

Curator: Here we have what's titled "Facsimile of Small Lion Tankard," a Lower German piece, circa 1540, by an unidentified maker. The dimensions are roughly 30 by 41 centimeters. Isn’t he something? Editor: He's magnificent! The scale-like pattern on the body, those stylized tail curls… It feels regal, almost heraldic, but also a little…ferocious? A beautiful tension. Curator: Consider the context: a tankard, a utilitarian object, elevated through elaborate craftsmanship. We see the social status of the owner reflected in the skilled labor and the cost of materials involved. Editor: Absolutely. It's like the artist is saying, "Even our drinks deserve a touch of the sublime.” I can just imagine the conversations that tankard witnessed! Curator: A true confluence of the functional and the artistic, speaking volumes about consumption and class. Editor: And now, a silent guardian of history, reminding us that even everyday objects can roar with meaning.