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This splendid galley was carved out of rock crystal at the end of the sixteenth century. It was made in the famous Saracchi workshop in Milan. The hull is decorated with finely carved scenes from Greek mythology. There’s a rape of Europa, the rescue of Andromeda by Perseus, the abduction of Helen and, finally, the Siege of Troy.

The gallery received its precious mounts in Milan. The Danish flag, however, is not part of the original design. It may have been added to mark a visit by the King of Denmark to Dresden in 1709. So you see how Kunstkammer exhibits were also used for political purposes. By the way, the enamelled gold band with August the Strong’s monogram is actually a repair. It seems that the galley broke in two.

Since the mid-sixteenth century, Milan had been the centre of crystal carving.  Unique examples of this unusual art were produced there. Giovanni Ambrogio Saracco designed the often fantastic and complex objects. His brother, Simone, executed the carved decoration. Simone was a master intagliatore - engraving whole scenes and decorative elements that are only a few millimetres thick into rock crystal. Arte minuta, it was called: or subtle stone cutting. Just imagine the skill it required to engrave such thin and brittle rock crystal, without it simply shattering! The stone-cutters appear to have overcome this characteristic of the material effortlessly – they extended the limits of what was artististically possible.

Rock crystal artefacts from the Saracchi workshop were collectors’ items. The rich and powerful vied with each another to acquire as many of them as possible.

When you think about it: it‘s almost a miracle that these fragile works of art have survived through the centuries. Of course, they were never used. At most, they were exhibited for admiration on festive occasions.