Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 3 works by Wenzel Jamnitzer in our catalogue
Summary
Mother Earth (or Merkel) table decoration (1549) is recorded as the most famous painting of Wenzel Jamnitzer; it is held by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Nautilus Cup in the Form of a Chicken (1550) and Inkstand (1560) occupy the second and third entries. Of the 3 works by Wenzel Jamnitzer recorded in the catalogue, the 3 best known are listed below, each entry with its date, the holding museum and a note on the work.
A silver figure of Mother Earth rises from a fluted base, her arms supporting a heavy bowl of abundance. She carries the weight of the world upon her head. Around her, the metal transforms into a garden of silver flora and fauna. Tiny lizards and ring snakes wind through the stems, their scales captured in cold, hard metal. These are not mere carvings; they are life casts, molded from the…
Behold a breathtaking testament to 16th-century artistry – Wenzel Jamnitzer’s "Nautilus Cup in the Form of a Chicken," crafted around 1550. This extraordinary piece, now available as a meticulously hand-painted reproduction, transports viewers to the heart of the Northern Renaissance, showcasing the unparalleled skill and decorative ambition of one of Germany's most celebrated goldsmiths.
A Testament to Renaissance Craftsmanship: Examining Wenzel Jamnitzer’s Inkstand The silver inkstand attributed to Wenzel Jamnitzer (circa 1507 – December 19, 1585) stands as a remarkable exemplar of Northern Mannerist artistry—a style characterized by refined elegance and meticulous attention to detail that flourished during the mid-16th century. More than just an instrument for calligraphy, this diminutive sculpture embodies the intellectual fervor and artistic innovation prevalent in Nuremberg’s burgeoning cultural landscape…
The four subjects most frequently represented among these works, each with its best-known example.
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Wenzel Jamnitzer | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Kunsthistorisches Museum |
Vienna | 2 | Nautilus Cup in the Form of a Chicken, Inkstand |
 Rijksmuseum |
Amsterdam | 1 | Mother Earth (or Merkel) table decoration |
Select a decade to display its principal painting.
A silver figure of Mother Earth rises from a fluted base, her arms supporting a heavy bowl of abundance. She carries the weight of the world upon her head. Around her, the metal transforms into a garden of silver flora and fauna. Tiny lizards and ring snakes wind through the stems, their scales captured in cold, hard metal. These are not mere carvings; they are life casts, molded from the…
Behold a breathtaking testament to 16th-century artistry – Wenzel Jamnitzer’s "Nautilus Cup in the Form of a Chicken," crafted around 1550. This extraordinary piece, now available as a meticulously hand-painted reproduction, transports viewers to the heart of the Northern Renaissance, showcasing the unparalleled skill and decorative ambition of one of Germany's most celebrated goldsmiths.
A Testament to Renaissance Craftsmanship: Examining Wenzel Jamnitzer’s Inkstand The silver inkstand attributed to Wenzel Jamnitzer (circa 1507 – December 19, 1585) stands as a remarkable exemplar of Northern Mannerist artistry—a style characterized by refined elegance and meticulous attention to detail that flourished during the mid-16th century. More than just an instrument for calligraphy, this diminutive sculpture embodies the intellectual fervor and artistic innovation prevalent in Nuremberg’s burgeoning cultural landscape…
Mother Earth (or Merkel) table decoration (1549), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The following entries are Nautilus Cup in the Form of a Chicken (1550) and Inkstand (1560).
42 years: Wenzel Jamnitzer was born in 1507 and Mother Earth (or Merkel) table decoration is dated 1549.
The catalogue records 3 works by Wenzel Jamnitzer, dated between 1549 and 1560.
Principally in Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna) and Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam). The museum table above gives the full distribution.
The earliest dated work listed here is Mother Earth (or Merkel) table decoration (1549); the latest is Inkstand (1560).
Acrylic On Canvas, in 2 of the 3 works listed on this page.
Northern mannerism, as documented by the works on this page.
Nautilus Cup in the Form of a Chicken and Inkstand are among the 2 works on this page in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
