cup
Cup and Cover
1568 (made)
1568 (made)
Place of origin |
Coconut mounted in elaborately chased silver bands, the lid surmounted by a figure of a warrior holding a shield engraved with a crest in the form of a finger ring. The coconut stands on a chased bell shaped foot and stand. The coconut is carved with scenes from three stories of Classical mythology: Diana, in her bath, changes Actaeon the hunter into a stag; Venus watches her lover Adonis die after he is gored by a wild pig (his mother Myrrah is depicted to his right as she is transformed into a myrrh tree); 'the Judgement of Paris' - when Paris, a prince of Troy, asked by Jupiter to choose the fairest among Venus, Minerva and Juno, chooses the goddess Venus and hands her a golden apple, engraved 'to the Fairest'.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
Title | cup (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Coconut, carved, and mounted with chased, cast and engraved silver. |
Brief description | Cup with lid, coconut and silver mounts, Dutch (Amsterdam), around 1568, the carved cup with monogram 'W.T.S' of unidentified carver. |
Physical description | Coconut mounted in elaborately chased silver bands, the lid surmounted by a figure of a warrior holding a shield engraved with a crest in the form of a finger ring. The coconut stands on a chased bell shaped foot and stand. The coconut is carved with scenes from three stories of Classical mythology: Diana, in her bath, changes Actaeon the hunter into a stag; Venus watches her lover Adonis die after he is gored by a wild pig (his mother Myrrah is depicted to his right as she is transformed into a myrrh tree); 'the Judgement of Paris' - when Paris, a prince of Troy, asked by Jupiter to choose the fairest among Venus, Minerva and Juno, chooses the goddess Venus and hands her a golden apple, engraved 'to the Fairest'. |
Dimensions |
|
Marks and inscriptions |
|
Gallery label |
|
Credit line | Purchased with funds from the Capt. H. B. Murray Bequest |
Object history | The Museum purchased the cup at the sale of the collection of Ralph Bernal, auctioned at Christie's London in 1855, where it was lot 1409. |
Subjects depicted | |
Place depicted | |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | 2117:1, 2-1855 |
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 | February 18, 2004 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest