Ochsenkopfhumpen
Manufacturer
Unknown
Date1729
MediumBlown and enameled glass
DimensionsOverall: 8 15/16 in. (22.7 cm)
Overall, Rim: 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm)
Base: 5 7/16 in. (13.8 cm)
Overall, Rim: 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm)
Base: 5 7/16 in. (13.8 cm)
ClassificationsGlass
Credit LineGift of Dr. Eugen Grabscheid
Object number63.37.11
Terms
- Colorless
- White
Collections
On View
On viewThe Ochsenkopf (Ox’s Head) is one of the tallest peaks in the Fichtelberg mountain region in Germany, just outside Bayreuth in Bavaria, not too far from the Czech border. This region is the source of four rivers that flow in four different directions. These rivers are the subject of the inscription and are depicted on the vessel, flowing out of the tall green mountain. The Eger (now known mainly by its Czech name Ohre) flows east, the Naab flows south, the Saal (modern spelling Saale) flows north, and the Mayn (modern spelling Main) flows west. The Eger and Saal both eventually dump into the Elbe (the Eger goes through Karlovy Vary/Karlsbad and joins just north of Prague, while the Saale goes up through Jena and Halle to Magdeburg). The Naab goes south into the Danube by Regensburg, and the Main goes west through Bayreuth, Würzburg, and Frankfurt to join the Rhine at Mainz. Thus, the poem is praising the Ochsenkopf as a mountain that is the source of rivers which touch all four corners of the world (that is, German-speaking Europe), in essence saying that vast riches are flowing out of this rich-in-resources place. It is a type of Garden of Eden, and the cup and poem celebrate and take pride in its bounty. The name Fichtelberg comes from Fichte (pine tree), indicating that the region is known for its thick, rich forests, filled with animals and also a source of mineral wealth. Thus we have animals depicted on the Humpen, and the lock further symbolizes the bounty and wealth of this area. The precise purpose of such decorated beer glasses is not certain, but it is presumed that they are intended to help celebrate and toast the Fichtelberg region, thus making them objects of regional pride.
