Existing comment:
Lidded Tankard
1654
Emperor Leopold I
Future Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I turned the body of this tankard when he was only fourteen. Turning ivory on a lathe demanded self-control and patience; without these traits, the turner could easily damage a piece if his or her concentration wavered. The practice was widely understood as a metaphor for good governance, as a similar slip in attention as a ruler could endanger the integrity of the realm. This made the activity a favored exercise in the education of young princes and princesses. |