Mounted nautilus cup, Nagyszeben, mid 17th century (shell & silver-gilt) (detail of 3434804)

Maker's mark NK. On a lobed foot repoussé and chased with flowers and winged putti heads on a matted ground, the stem formed as the fish swallowing Jonah, its tail supporting a nautilus shell, three sections of the shell engraved with foliage, the front of the shell mounted with a silver sea-monster mask above a triple lobed cup, each lobe finely repoussé and chased with a scene from the story of Jonah: in the center Jonah being thrown overboard, on the right Jonah and the gourd tree, and on the left Jonah pleading with God, each within foliate scrolls, marked on foot