This incredibly rare Viennese ewer, carved of rock crystal and adorned with gilded silver and jewels, takes the form of a startling mythological beast. Carved from a single block of natural quartz, this ewer is a work of outstanding quality. From its snake’s tail and dragon’s wings to its exaggerated mouth, this creature exhibits the astounding carving and silver expertise for which Viennese artists of the 19th century were known. Rock crystal was, from the Renaissance to the 18th century, considered one of the most highly valued of the minerals and was held by many to be a marvel of nature. Featured in the most sumptuous of art collections, it was revered for its transparent quality, and was often represented in art as a sign of purity.