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Engraving with German head line
reading: Survey of silver pagan tableware and coins, so found in 1633 at
Wettingen under the earth and excavated.
The treasure was hidden in the wake of the Alemannic incursions of the 3rd
century AD.
Matthaeus Merian was commissioned to document the finds before they were melted
down and distributed among the Swiss cantons of the time.
The large size plates were carefully decorated and inscribed. The tableware had
a total weight of three kilograms.
The single handled dipper was decorated with Roman deities and their attributes:
Saturnus with sickle and poppy plant, Venus with apple and doves, Jupiter with
sceptre, lightning bundle and eagle, Hermes with purse, caduceus and rooster,
the armored Mars with goose (!), Luna with torch and crescent crown, Sol with
spiked crown, whip and globe.
Two coins belonged to Gordian, one to Sabina, the fourth coin is undetermined.
Printed by the heirs of Merian as fig. 52, p. 58 in: Topographia Helvetiae,
Rhaetiae ... Frankfurt 1654.
Frankfurt, 1654 AD
Engraving on laid paper
H. 31.2 cm (12.3 in)
W. 38.6 cm (15.2 in)
Fold sheet, large watermark on one side. Clear print, paper lightly browned and
fingerstained.
340 USD |
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