Lot 451: An Austro-German Ivory high relief of the fall of man, by Balthasar Griessmann(1620-1706), circa 1670-90

intricately carved with Eve handing Adam the apple, the serpent with the upper body of a child, entwining the tree and gazing down at the couple, with associated molded ebony base.

measurements note height of ivory 12 7/8in.; 32.7cm.

F.Schestag, Katalog der Kunstsammlung des Freiherrn Anselm von Rothschild in Wein, vol.I, Vienna, 1866, p.14, no.90.C. Theuerkauff, "An Ivory Carving of Judith and Holofernes and the work of the Master B.G"., inThe Register of the Museum of Art, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, vol.III, nos.5-6, Spring 1966, pp.2-35.C. Theuerkauff, ?Zum Werk des Monogrammisten B.G(vor 1662 nach 1680)?, in Aachener Kunstblätter, vol.XLIV, 1973, pp.245-86.F. Wagner, ?Balthasar Griessmann (um1620-1706), Öberlanguagen ze einer Identifizierung des Monogrammisten B.G.,? in Barockberichte: Informationsblätter des Salzburger Barockmuseums, no.879, Salzburg, 1994, pp.334-40.C. Theuerkauff, ?Baroque Ivories from the collection of Anselm Salomon von Rothschild in Vienna?, in Apollo, v.157, February 2003, pp.15-25.S. Lillie, Was einmal war, Vienna, 2003, p.1095. RELATED LITERATUREE.V. Philippovich, Elfenbein, Braunschweig, 1961, p.153, no.114.C. Theuerkauff, Die Bilderke in Elfenbein des 16.-19. Jahrhunderts, Berlin, 1986, pp.226-230.

Baron Alphonse von Rothschild (1878-1942), ViennaSeized from the above and allocated for the Führermuseum Linz, 1938/9 (reference AR 2910)Restituted to the Austrian government, Kremsmünster depot, 1945Restituted from the above to Baroness Clarice von Rothschild, New York, 1948American Private Collection

PROPERTY OF A NEW YORK STATE COLLECTION
Until recent years, Balthasar Griessmann, a master in virtuoso ivory carving, was only known by his initials which were inscribed on a small group of ivory sculptures and decorative objects. The earliest known work by the aforenamed 'Master BG' is the relief of the Passage of the Jews through the Red sea, signed 1662/BG, in the Abbey Collection of the Klosterneuburg, Vienna(see Philippovich,op.cit.,p.152.). Further examples of his work are in collections including the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the J.Paul Getty Museum, Santa Monica.