Der Planetenhumpen von Neusohl/Banská Bystrica. Meisterliches Objekt – sichere Anlage – elitäre Repräsentation

Abstract

Following an analysis of the exceptional tankard decorated with the signs of the zodiac and the planet lords preserved in the collection of Stredoslovenské múzeum in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, this case study brings attention to the huge European market of goldsmithery in the Renaissance era and the intercultural exchange in Central Slovakian mining towns around 1550. In the economically highly prosperous cities, where a long-time living, though, was regarded dangerous because of the closeness to the border with the Ottoman Empire, one could consider this kind of movable artwork as an investment preferable over, for instance, architecture. Besides, this study is trying to answer the question how to capitalize on the results of the basic arthistorical research and how to articulate its theoretical frames, since the systematics of the research, in this case of Renaissance art in Slovakia around 1550, is missing.

Keywords

• Goldsmithery
• Renaissance
• Nuremberg
• Slovakian mining towns
• Jamnitzer workshop