Not on display

Cup

1800-1882 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Vienna (made)

This rock crystal cup is a nineteenth-century imitation of late-sixteenth and seventeenth-century cups. Close examination suggests the bowl and stem were originally separate.

Object details

Category
Food Vessels & Tableware
Object type
Cup
Materials and techniques
Rock crystal, enamelled gold
Rock Crystal
Enamel
Gold
Brief description
Rock crystal with gold enamel mounts, unmarked, possibly Austria (Vienna), 1800-1882
Physical description
Cup. Rock crystal, the bowl oval, fluted and engraved with scrolls. Stem flat. Foot carved to represent a tortoise. On the bowl are to applied figures of dragons in enamelled gold; the stem and foot are mounted in the same material.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.625in
  • Width: 6.25in
Marks and inscriptions


Note
The mounts unmarked.
Gallery label
(1993 - 2011)
CUP
Italian; late 17th century
Rock crystal mounted in enamelled gold
Jones collection
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Object history
This carved rock crystal cup is a nineteenth-century imitation of late-sixteenth and seventeenth-century examples collected and displayed by wealthy patrons. Close examination of the ornament and the object's construction suggests the bowl and the stem were not originally mounted together. The green enamelling of the dragon is inconsistent with the black enamelled decoration on the rim; there is a curious plastic blob in the centre of the underside of the foot and, unusually, the bowl is glued to the top of the stem. The piece was part of John Jones' collection and bequeathed to the Museum on his death in 1882.
Summary
This rock crystal cup is a nineteenth-century imitation of late-sixteenth and seventeenth-century cups. Close examination suggests the bowl and stem were originally separate.
Bibliographic references
  • Mitchell, H. P.. [Catalogue entries]. In: Catalogue of the Jones Collection, Part II: Ceramics, Ormolu, Goldsmiths' Work, Enamels, Sculpture, Tapestry, Books, and Prints. London: The Board of Education, 1924.
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1882. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1883. pp. 78
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
866-1882

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

Record createdJuly 24, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O164164/cup-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest