Cup and Cover
ca. 1590 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This object copies the shape of nautilus cups, whose bodies were made of the shell of the sea snail, Nautilus pompilius. This was a rare and exotic material much sought after for mounting in silver. The marine theme is developed in the stem, in the form of the mermaid rising from the waves, the sea-monster cover and the finial in the form of Neptune, the god of the sea.
Nautilus-shaped cups were supported on various sorts of stems. These often incorporated sirens or mermen in the decoration, which were popular subjects on display plate of the second half of the 16th and early 17th centuries.
Nautilus-shaped cups were supported on various sorts of stems. These often incorporated sirens or mermen in the decoration, which were popular subjects on display plate of the second half of the 16th and early 17th centuries.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt with silver decoration |
| Brief description | Standing cup in the shape of a nautilus shell, a stem in the form of a female figure, made by Paul Aettinger, Regensburg, about 1590. |
| Physical description | Standing cup in the shape of a nautilus shell, a stem in the form of a female figure extending to decorative cup, surmounted by figure of Neptune with trident and chain. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | On lip of bowl: maker's mark PA for Paul Aettinger the Elder 1574 - 1619 (identified by Bas Begeer) [but see Rosenberg III, 4448]; town mark for Regensburg around 1590 [Rosenberg 4440]. |
| Credit line | Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest |
| Object history | Dr WL Hildburgh FSA Gift - formerly Baron Carl von Rothschild Collection, Viktor Rothschild Collection. This object copies the shape of nautilus cups, whose bodies were made of the shell of the sea snail, Nautilus pompilius, a rare and exotic material much sought after for mounting in silver. The marine theme is developed in the stem, in the form of the mermaid rising from the waves., the sea monster cover and the finial in the form of Neptune, the god of the sea. Rosenberg lists two other works with this mark: a ciborium dated 1591 and a tankard embossed with lozenge-shaped decoration in the Royal Treasury Stockholm. Nautilus shaped cups with various sorts of stems, often sirens or mermen are popular subjects on display plate of the second half of the 16th and early 17th centuries. |
| Summary | This object copies the shape of nautilus cups, whose bodies were made of the shell of the sea snail, Nautilus pompilius. This was a rare and exotic material much sought after for mounting in silver. The marine theme is developed in the stem, in the form of the mermaid rising from the waves, the sea-monster cover and the finial in the form of Neptune, the god of the sea. Nautilus-shaped cups were supported on various sorts of stems. These often incorporated sirens or mermen in the decoration, which were popular subjects on display plate of the second half of the 16th and early 17th centuries. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.424-1956 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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