Dragon-Shaped Toothpick Pendant

anonymous, c. 1550 - c. 1600

This pendant is not just an ornament: hold it upside down and the pointed tail becomes a toothpick. Many portraits from the 16th century indicate that men often wore this type of pendant. It was usually attached to a chain around the neck and prominently visible. While practical, it was also a sign of wealth, class, and dignity.

  • Artwork typetoothpick, pendant (jewelry)
  • Object numberBK-17068
  • Dimensionsheight 7.1 cm x width 2.7 cm
  • Physical characteristicsgedeeltelijk geëmailleerd goud, parels en edelstenen

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Dragon-Shaped Toothpick Pendant

  • Object type

  • Object number

    BK-17068

  • Description

    Hanger tevens tandenstoker, van goud, email, parels en edelstenen. Het geheel heeft de vorm van een draak.

Creation

  • Creation

    jeweler: anonymous, Italy (possibly)

  • Dating

    c. 1550 - c. 1600

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    gedeeltelijk geëmailleerd goud, parels en edelstenen

  • Dimensions

    height 7.1 cm x width 2.7 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; collection Hermitage, Petersburg, 1902;{Von Falke 1936, p. 23, no. K.31; Les Trésors d’art en Russie 2, 1902, plate 142.}…; collection Dr Fritz Mannheimer (1890-1939), Amsterdam and Paris, 1934;{Amsterdam 1934, p. 265, no. 1278.} purchased from his estate, en bloc, by the Dienststelle Mühlmann, The Hague, for Adolf Hitler's Führermuseum, Linz, 1940;{Korthals Altes 1974, pp. 21-22.} war recuperation, SNK, 1945;{HNA, SNK Archive, 2.08.42, inv. no. 548.} on loan, with 1,702 other objects, from the DRVK to the museum, 1952;{Note RMA.} transferred to the museum, 1960

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

Persistent URL

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  • Dragon-Shaped Toothpick Pendant
  • Dragon-Shaped Toothpick Pendant
  • Dragon-Shaped Toothpick Pendant