Siegerlandmuseum Acquires Rare 16th-Century Nuremberg Goldsmith Masterpiece

The Siegerlandmuseum has acquired a significant Renaissance covered goblet, a masterpiece of Nuremberg goldsmithing created around 1581. The gilded silver vessel was likely commissioned by Valentin von und zu der Hees, a local nobleman who served as a commander for the Order of St. John in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The piece later belonged to the French Rothschild banking family. The Cultural Foundation of the German States supported the purchase with a €75,000 grant. The goblet, attributed to master goldsmith Hans I. Rappolt, is notable for its intricate decoration and rarity, being one of the few publicly accessible works by Rappolt outside Dresden's Green Vault. The acquisition coincides with the museum's 120th anniversary in 2025.