Double Cup
1603/1609 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Double cups were two identical cups that fitted together at the lip, with one turned upside down and placed on top of the other for display. They were a traditional form from south Germany and were often presented as wedding gifts.
This object would once have been part of the buffet. The buffet of plate was an important feature of medieval and Renaissance banquets. Often made of oak or walnut, buffets usually stood at the side of a dining room, their shelves filled with tablewares. Gold and silver vessels were displayed to convey a sense of the owner's wealth. Normally these vessels were used for the service of food and drink, but on great state occasions they would be set out purely for display.
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.
This object would once have been part of the buffet. The buffet of plate was an important feature of medieval and Renaissance banquets. Often made of oak or walnut, buffets usually stood at the side of a dining room, their shelves filled with tablewares. Gold and silver vessels were displayed to convey a sense of the owner's wealth. Normally these vessels were used for the service of food and drink, but on great state occasions they would be set out purely for display.
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.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Raised, cast, stamped, embossed, chased, etched and silver-gilt |
Brief description | Silver-gilt double cup, Nuremberg, Hans Beutmüller, circa 1600 |
Physical description | Both cups are of identical form, fitting together at the lip, each stands on an eight-lobed foot, with a tapering stem and gourd-shaped bowl, the stem is chased with swirling attenuated lobes, the bowl is also embossed with swirling lobes and has applied openwork flowers and foliage and a corded band beneath the vertical lip. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Gallery label | (Gallery 70, case 2)
8. Double cup
About 1600
Double cups consist of two identical cups, with one turned upside down and placed on top of the other. They were a typical German form, and could be found on buffets from around 1500.
Nürnberg, Germany; Hanns Beutmüller (died 1622)
Gilded silver
Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.525:1, 2-2008(16/11/2016) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: The Earls Spencer, Althorp, Northamptonshire. Acquired by Arthur Gilbert from S.J. Phillips Ltd, London, 1984. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Double cups were two identical cups that fitted together at the lip, with one turned upside down and placed on top of the other for display. They were a traditional form from south Germany and were often presented as wedding gifts. This object would once have been part of the buffet. The buffet of plate was an important feature of medieval and Renaissance banquets. Often made of oak or walnut, buffets usually stood at the side of a dining room, their shelves filled with tablewares. Gold and silver vessels were displayed to convey a sense of the owner's wealth. Normally these vessels were used for the service of food and drink, but on great state occasions they would be set out purely for display. 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. |
Bibliographic references |
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Other number | SG 173AB - Arthur Gilbert Number |
Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.525:1, 2-2008 |
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Record created | June 26, 2008 |
Record URL |
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