Art Nouveau - Lid Trophy as a Wander Prize for Free Balloon Flight

Silver. Above a bell-shaped stand, a short baluster shaft with relief laurel leaf decoration, framed by eight faceted disc nodes. Ovoid cup with pierced decorative border. High domed lid crowned by a bud-shaped knob adorned with a large, ovoid malachite. Corpus adorned all around with fine hammer stroke decoration and set with malachite, jasper, and hematite cabochons. Engraved inscription on the cup wall: "Wanderpreis der Kölner Zeitung Verlag M. Du Mont Schauberg für unbeschränkte Zeitfahrt im Freiballon" (Wandering Prize of the Cologne Newspaper Publishing House M. Du Mont Schauberg for unrestricted balloon flight), as well as a relief sculpted coat of arms with archers, stars, and mountains. Gilt inside. Marked 800, maker's mark. Weight approximately 1005 g. Height 39.5 cm. A German Art Nouveau silver lidded cup with cabochons and inscription as a challenge trophy for a balloon flight. Gilt inside. Standard mark 800, maker's mark. German. Cologne. Gabriel Hermeling. Circa 1910.