Cup
1800 to 1895 (made)
Place of origin |
The cup was made in Cambay (Khambhat), India in the 19th century with most of the fashioning process involving a combination of hand-working and turning on a bow-driven lathe. Although agate is a tough and durable material, when it is worked to a fine edge or thickness it is vulnerable to damage when subjected to stress or impact.
Khambhat is situated at the northern end of the Gulf of Khambhat and was once an important trading centre for the region but this has waned as the harbour silted up. Despite having no stone deposits of its own, Khambhat is renowned for the craft of agate-working and especially bead-making, with the raw materials coming from more distant sources.
Khambhat is situated at the northern end of the Gulf of Khambhat and was once an important trading centre for the region but this has waned as the harbour silted up. Despite having no stone deposits of its own, Khambhat is renowned for the craft of agate-working and especially bead-making, with the raw materials coming from more distant sources.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Agate, cut and polished using abrasives and abrasive-charged tools, most probably fashioned using a bow-driven lathe. |
Brief description | Cup, circular, short, recessed foot with rim, sub-translucent brown agate with opaque beige and very dark brown patches, dark repair to lip, Cambay India, 19th century |
Physical description | A cup of circular form and having a short, recessed foot with rim, fashioned in sub-translucent brown agate with opaque beige and very dark brown patches. There is a repair to the lip using a dark brown filler. |
Dimensions |
|
Credit line | W. H. Cope Bequest |
Object history | This cup was fashioned in Cambay (Khambhat), India in the 19th century. It was acquired by William Henry Cope Esq. who valued it (together with 693-1903) at £6-10s. He bequeathed both to the museum in 1903. |
Summary | The cup was made in Cambay (Khambhat), India in the 19th century with most of the fashioning process involving a combination of hand-working and turning on a bow-driven lathe. Although agate is a tough and durable material, when it is worked to a fine edge or thickness it is vulnerable to damage when subjected to stress or impact. Khambhat is situated at the northern end of the Gulf of Khambhat and was once an important trading centre for the region but this has waned as the harbour silted up. Despite having no stone deposits of its own, Khambhat is renowned for the craft of agate-working and especially bead-making, with the raw materials coming from more distant sources. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 692-1903 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | June 25, 2009 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest