A heavy silver jardiniere with coat of arms of the House of Reuss, Dresden, Johann Gottlieb Schäffermeyer (master silversmith 1745), 1777Silver, gilt on the inside. On four beautifully shaped rocaille feet. Slightly domed, oval body with profiled rim. The obverse with engraved coat of arms of the younger line of the Reuss family. On the sides two three-dimensional rocaille handles. The bottom with assayer’s mark, city mark, master’s mark "ICSM" and year letter "C". Dimensions 14.5 x 41 x 22 cm, weight 2080 g.The House of Reuss, whose members became imperial princes in 1778, ruled several divided principalities until 1918 in various lines and sub-lines. In 1918, their territories comprised the Principality of Reuss Elder Line with its capital Greiz and the Principality of Reuss Younger Line with the state capital of Gera. The coat of arms of this jardiniere points to the younger line. A striding stork can be seen on coins of Henry I Reuss-Schleiz (1640 – 1692).Condition: II +