This delicate cabinet piece is probably the work of Georg Christoph Dinglinger, the brother of Saxony’s famous court jeweller, Johann Melchior Dinglinger. It’s inspired by a popular entertainment during the Baroque era. Excursions, hunting and racing in sleighs were an integral part of royal festivities and greatly loved by the aristocracy.
A white horse with a heavy, decorative harness is drawing a racing sleigh with high curved runners. The sleigh is richly studded with rubies and diamonds. The head, chest and back of the noble animal are hung with bells. They would have announced the approach of the majestic vehicle while it was still a long way off. The final touch to this impressive sight is provided by a parrot sitting on a perch above the harness.
Sleighs with bodies in the shape of shells were generally used by ladies. But here it’s a young Mohr who is enjoying the winter sport. His legs hang over the front of the sleigh body. A second Mohr has slipped into the role of the sleigh-driver. He is sitting gracefully on the board behind the sleigh body, holding the reins and elegantly driving the vehicle.
- Material & Technik
- Elfenbein, Holz, Silber, vergoldet, Gold, Email, Bernstein, Diamanten, Rubine
- Abmessungen
- H 12,5 cm, L 28,7 cm; Sockel: B 28,8 cm, T 10,1 cm
- Museum
- Grünes Gewölbe
- Ort & Datierung
- Dresden, kurz vor 1711
- Inventarnummer
- VI 194