Yves Saint Laurent Pierre Bergé - Christie's

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The Hanover Cups
In one room, paintings on the wall were replaced with a group
of huge covered cups standing on individual gilt brackets. This
extraordinary series of a dozen cups – one over 100 centimetres
high – together with a fine nautilus cup and an exceptionally rare
table-fountain, were made mainly in Hamburg and Nuremberg in
the first half of the 17th century and several are engraved with the
monogram of Georg-Wilhelm, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg-Celle
(1624–1705). They appear to have been presented by local districts in
his dukedom to him or his immediate predecessor. On his death, all
passed into the Hanover royal collection and at least twelve of them
are recorded in an inventory in English drawn up of the collection in
1747, presumably on the direct orders of King George II, joint
monarch of England and Hanover or his chamberlain. While the
nautilus cup was probably sold off in 1924, the remaining pieces
descended in the Hanover royal family until acquired by Galerie J. Kugel,
all to be reunited in Yves Saint Laurent’s and Pierre Bergé’s collection.
Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg-Celle
opposite page: The Hanover Cups, Germany, first half 17th century. Individual estimates ranging from: 330,000–200,000
© Historisches Museum, Hannover