Linhart’s chest, 1536

Museum Tucherschloss und Hirsvogelsaal, HI Moe 018
Long chest for the flag of the three chief captains in Nuremberg, 1536

This narrow, longitudinal rectangular chest is probably the last surviving work of its kind and tells of the Nuremberg triumvirate.

On the inside of the lid of the chest there is an inscription in Gothic letters, some of which are difficult to read. It refers to the year 1536 and the three senior captains Christoph Tetzel (1485-1544), Linhart II Tucher (1487-1568) and Sebald Pfinzing (1487-1543), who led the imperial city of Nuremberg’s regiment at that time. These had, so it is said, "three new flags" made with matching chests. Each captain had a chest at his disposal.

Which three flags are we referring to? We must be talking about the red and white war flag, of which each of the imperial city’s three highest dignitaries was given a copy together with other insignia on taking office. The triumvirate of captains held supreme command over the city and country in times of emergency. The flag was considered to be their most important emblem.

Presumably, this long chest was used to store the personal flag of Linhart Tucher, one of the most successful officials of Nuremberg’s "Golden Age".

Claudia Däubler-Hauschke, Angelika Lindner