Agate Bowl

The agate cup in the Treasury of the Hofburg in Vienna is one of the inalienable heirlooms of the House of Habsburg - the other is the Ainkhürn.

After the death of Emperor Ferdinand I, it was agreed that these two pieces should all lines belong together and should not be sold or given away.

The shell is made from a piece of agate, its diameter 58 to 58,5 cm with handle 76 cm in wingspan. The dish dates back to the 4th century. In the 18th century it was known to report the shell had been captured in 1204 in the conquest of Constantinople Opel and later came into possession of Charles the Bold. With the Burgundian heritage they came into possession of the Hapsburgs. The source code is lost.

The agate bowl was because of their size as a natural wonder. Its special feature is that in earlier times there was something recognizable that looked like a font. The letters have been: B.XRISTO.RI.XXPP. This was based on Jesus Christ and treats the shell as a relic; it was even regarded as the Holy Grail.

After the restoration in 1951, this font should be briefly again been recognized. The art historian Rudolf Egger then read " ARISTO " and interpreted as the name of the stone cutter.

But there is also the theory that it is an optical illusion in the inscription as the cup of water veins is crossed.