Of curiosities and glasses of beer - selected paintings by Georg Hinz

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No, I have no idea as to the identity of the bizarre object hanging at left. A breaded cutlet, a misshapen baked good...?
Edit: Thanks to a few very astute blog followers, I think we can now safely assume that it's a... sponge! Now the
only question is were sponges really so rare, then, as to be hung thus, presented as the equal to a string of pearls?

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Georg Hinz (circa 1630-31, Hamburg-Altona - November or December 1688, Hamburg), German painter famous for his pronkstilleven (sumptuous still lifes), particularly his "cabinet of curiosity" paintings. He has been known variously by the surnames Hainz, Haintz, Heintz, Hintz, Hintzsch, and by the given names Georg Johann, Gerritt, and simply Georg.