Hessian Welcome-goblet

The cup was one of two commissioned by the Hessian Landgrave Wilhelm IV (1532-1592) on the occasion of a wager with his brother-in-law Prince Joachim Ernst von Anhalt. The second goblet was considered lost before 1945. History of loss: History of loss: Most of the so-called Dessau silver treasure was stored in bank vaults in Ballenstedt (District Savings Bank, Allgemeine Deutsche Kreditbank and Ascherlebener Bank). The vaults were inspected by the Soviet occupation forces in 1945 and probably transported to the former USSR afterwards. It is currently unknown whether American occupying forces had previously inspected or taken the safes or their contents