Although they can be filled with water or wine, ewers in the form of an equestrian statuette were primarily table decorations. This and several similar ones were made in David Schwestermüller’s workshop in Augsburg. The head of the rider was interchangeable, allowing the buyer to choose whom the ewer was to represent. The horse’s head can also be removed, for use as a drinking vessel.
European Silver 1500–1850, Nationalmuseum 2011, cat nr 144:
Motif: King Gustav II Adolf. Original drawing of the same motif was made by Hans Friedrich Schorer (cirka 1585–1646) and is part of the collection of the Nationalmuseum (NMH 243/1931).