Tankard 1670 - 1675

This silver tankard was crafted by Hermann Lambrecht in the late 17th century, and features finely engraved figures, each laden with symbolic weight. Notice the two figures either side of a slender tree, they echo the biblical narrative of original sin with Adam and Eve. The motif of the tree is a powerful one, resonating across cultures from the Tree of Life in ancient mythologies to the family tree in our own lives. Here, it's rendered as a barren symbol, around which stand two figures, the story of whom has evolved over time to represent temptation and expulsion. The emotional weight of this scene has engaged viewers for centuries, tapping into our collective memory. This object invites us to consider how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across history.