The Løvenørn ivory goblet

Poul Vendelbo Løvenørn (1668-1740) fought for the Russians against the Swedes in the battles of Ljésnaja and Poltáva in 1708. He achieved the rank of Major and rose to become General Ménsjikov’s aide-de-camp. In this capacity he led the negotiations with the Swedish General A.L. Lewenhaupt about the Swedish surrender at Perevolotjna – later, he was able to help and assist captured Swedish officers and soldiers.

In the spring of 1710, by way of the Danish envoy in Russia Just Juel, he inquired unofficially into the possibility of being admitted into the Danish aristocracy, and in 1711, having returned to Copenhagen a Lieutenant-Colonel, he finally became a member of the peerage under the name of Løvenørn. He was also promised a position in Denmark once the war was over.

Tradition has it that Frederik IV gave Løvenørn the task of returning a casket of jewels from Gottorp Castle, and that the Løvenørn goblet was his reward.

Joachim Henne (active 1663-1707) ranks among the finest Baroque carvers in Northern Europe. About 60 works by Henne are known today. He mainly worked in ivory, but also wood, wax, metal and gouache. Henne was educated in the Netherlands and in Germany, and the most prominent of his works were commissioned by the Courts of Denmark and Gottorp. He was especially successful in rendering the musculature, veins and flesh of the ample women and endearing putti that are often found in his works.

Provenance: Ludvig Ernst Løvenørn until 1924. Christian Holstein Ledreborg until 1956.

Exhibited at Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg.

In later years kept at Rosenborg Castle (Royal Danish Collections).

References:: Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Kunstsammlung 8, 1963. Dietrichson, 1912, p. 108 ff., No. 23, ill.- Schnitler, II, 1927, p. 98, ill.- Faaborg, art. 8. 1. 1931 - L.L. Møller, 1963, p. 57-66, ill. - Rasmussen, 1977, p. 384 f., No. 113, ill. - Theuerkauff, 1979, p. 25. - V. Philippovich, 1982, p. 128.