Rijksmuseum

Jug in the shape of a war elephant

Date

c. 1615

Medium

gilding (material), silver (metal)

Institution

Rijksmuseum

This object is a cleverly disguised jug. The turret manned by soldiers can be unscrewed and the body of the elephant filled with wine. The animal alludes to the Carthaginian commander Hannibal, who crossed the Alps with a vast army – and several enormous elephants – to attack the Romans on their own territory in 218 bc.

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