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Gaming cup

Gaming cup

  • Place of origin:

    England, Great Britain (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1720 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Silver mounts, wood and mother-of-pearl

  • Credit Line:

    Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons Bequest

  • Museum number:

    M.822A-1926

  • Gallery location:

    Silver, room 65, case 23, shelf 1

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A gentleman would have used this gaming cup for drinking games, wagers (bets) and when playing cards. The cup had to be drained in one go and upturned.

This cup has silver mounts and lining. Silver featured in all aspects of a gentleman’s daily life, from the morning toilet to an evening at his club. Personal silver was commonly engraved with armorials or a crest, a name or initials. The less affluent would aspire to a few small pieces of silver, perhaps a pair of shoe buckles, a snuff box and a watch.

Physical description

Cup, one of a pair, wood mounted and lined with silver and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Inverted bell shape with spreading foot. One cup shows two angels with trumpets supporting a coat of arms. The other has similar angels supporting a monogram.

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

ca. 1720 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Silver mounts, wood and mother-of-pearl

Marks and inscriptions

Inlay angels with trumpets flanking a monogram CLM

Dimensions

Height: 7.25 cm, Length: 7 cm, Weight: 72.9 g

Object history note

Bequest - Croft Lyons
Acquisition RF: Croft Lyons

Descriptive line

Wood, lined and mounted in silver and mother-of-pearl, England, ca.1720

Exhibition History

The Silver Galleries (Victoria and Albert Museum)

Labels and date

PAIR OF GAMING CUPS
Wood, lined and mounted in silver, inlaid with mother of pearl
Unmarked, early 18th century
Gaming cups were used for wagers and at cards. The cup had to be drained and upturned.
M.822 and A-1926 [26/11/1996]

Materials

Silver; Wood; Mother-of-pearl

Techniques

Inlay

Subjects depicted

Angel; Monogram; Trumpet

Categories

Drinking; Metalwork

Collection code

MET

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Qr_O103527
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