Cup thumbnail 1
Cup thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91 to 93 mezzanine, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Cup

1770 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Neo-classical passion for engraved gems and cameos is expressed in this cup made from a nautilus shell. It was mounted with engraved gems, including copies of famous stones, for the last king of Poland, Stanislaus Augustus, in 1770. The central intaglio on the shell is a copy in blue glass of Diomedes stealing the palladium (the Felix Gem in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Nautilus shell mounted in gold set with onyx, chalcedony and glass intaglios and one cameo. The central intaglio on the shell is blue glass
Brief description
Nautilus shell cup mounted in gold set with onyx, chalcedony, glass intaglios and one cameo. The central intaglio on the shell is a copy in blue glass of Diomedes stealing the Palladium. Made by Jean Martin and dated 1770 , Poland (Warsaw)
Physical description
cup made from nautilus shell mounted in gold set with sardonyx, chalcedony and paste (glass) intaglios, and one layered agate cameo, the base and cover mother of pearl, signed 'J.MARTIN FAIT A VARSOVIELE 26 AOUT 1770', Poland (Warsaw), 1770
Dimensions
  • Height: 24cm
  • Width: 15.5cm
  • Depth: 11.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
'J.MARTIN FAIT A VARSOVIE LE 26 AOUT 1770' (Signed)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Carew from the Faquhar Matheson Collection
Object history
Historical significance: The cup is one of Jean Martin's first commissions for King Stanislaus Augustus (1769-1791) as Court Jeweller in Warsaw between 1769-91. It is recorded in the royal accounts as having been ordered in 1770 and was clearly designed as a vehicle for displaying cameos.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The Neo-classical passion for engraved gems and cameos is expressed in this cup made from a nautilus shell. It was mounted with engraved gems, including copies of famous stones, for the last king of Poland, Stanislaus Augustus, in 1770. The central intaglio on the shell is a copy in blue glass of Diomedes stealing the palladium (the Felix Gem in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford).
Collection
Accession number
M.281-1921

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Record createdJune 7, 2005
Record URL
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