The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Schatzkammer is one of the few collections of its kind formed in the late 20th century. The Schatzkammer, or treasury, was a new concept in the 16th century. It referred to a special chamber in which the most precious artefacts of a princely collection were housed. Gold and jewelled objects were mounted alongside exotic natural curiosities, including rock crystal, ostrich eggs or shells. Turban sea snails are found in the waters off Australia and the East Indies. Highliy prized, their polished shells were encased in silver and gold. Together, these objects demonstrated not only the wonders of nature and the technical achievements of the artist, but also the intellect and culture of the patron.

The marine figures, juxtaposition of disparate elements and complete use of all available decorative space on the cup's stem and mounts are Mannerist in style. Originally developed by Italian painters in Florence and at Fontainebleau during the 1530s, the Mannerist style soon spread to northern Europe.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.