Siegmund Bierfreund Nuremberg 17th Century Ball Foot Cup

[legrandmogol]

From what I understand (with the help of Google translate), Siegmund Bierfreund is referred to as the 'Master of Tulip Tops'. He was born around 1620, became a master silversmith around 1650 and worked until 1702 in Nuremberg. I don't really know much more about the maker and I might have the dates wrong. It would probably have had a lid at one time.