Royal: A German Parcel-Gilt Silver Covered Beaker, Johann Mittnacht III, Augsburg, Circa 1753-55

Ludvig VIII (1691-1768) took over from his father as Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1739. He was a hunting enthusiast and would sometimes travel in an open carriage drawn by stags. He was a favourite of Empress Marie Therese (1717-1780) who intervened at the Imperial Court of Justice to prevent Darmstadt from bankruptcy (Hunter-Stiebel, P., Hesse: A Princely German Collection, Portland Art Museum 2015, pp.254-255). He died of a heart attack in his opera box at the age of 78.

The inscription inside the cover “Trau Schau Wem!” may be translated as “Take care in whom you trust”.