Highlights
The Duchess Anna of Bavaria’s flea fur (zibellino)
- Artist
- Hans Mielich
- Locality
- Munich
- Date
- between 1552 and 1555
- Material
- Opaque pigments on calf parchment
- Dimensions
- H. 19,9 cm
- Location
- Not exhibited
- Inventory Number
- R 8242
- Acquisition
- Purchased in 1904 from the estate of Johann Heinrich von Hefner-Alteneck.
- Epoch
- Renaissance
Description
On commission from Albrecht V of Bavaria, the Munich court painter Hans Mielich (1516-1573) produced meticulous depictions of the prized possessions of the Duke and his wife, the Emperor's daughter Anna of Austria. High-fashion accessories for the Duchess included her flea fur – a precious, silk-lined sable or marten fur, with the head and claws replicated in gold and decorated with gemstones, pearls and enamel. The Duchess wore this luxury item attached to a chain at her girdle as a status symbol.
The famous volume with depictions of Duchess Anna’s jewellery, which is kept in the Bavarian State Library, contains 71 items portrayed by Mielich. The Bayerisches Nationalmuseum has 18 individual larger parchment sheets with illustrations of goldsmiths' work, gemstones and jewellery.
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