coconut cup
Cup and Cover
1574 (made)
1574 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The coconut is signed and dated 'GH 1576' and is elaborately carved with Biblical scenes reflecting the belief that the key events in Christ's life were all prefigured by events in the Old Testament. The upper register depicts the New Testament scenes from the Passion and the lower the corresponding events from the Old Testament. For instance, the scene of the Entombment of Christ is above that of Jonah and the Whale.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Title | coconut cup (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved coconut mounted in embossed and cast silver |
| Brief description | Carved coconut with silver lid and silver mounts, the mounts The Netherlands (Dordrecht), 1574, maker's mark a five-petalled flower in a shaped punch, unidentified. |
| Physical description | Standing cup of coconut mounted in 4 vertical straps of silver, the coconut carved with scenes, the foot and lid embossed, the stem with an inverted baluster knop, finial cast in the form of a woman. |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | The shell dated 1576 and carved with the initials 'GH'. Coconut, an exotic rarity in the 16th century, was much prized when mounted in silver. The shells were often intricately carved, as here with Old Testamant scenes from the Bible. The mounts are intricately chased and etched with fashionable Mannerist ornament. The original label gives this as "probably English". |
| Summary | The coconut is signed and dated 'GH 1576' and is elaborately carved with Biblical scenes reflecting the belief that the key events in Christ's life were all prefigured by events in the Old Testament. The upper register depicts the New Testament scenes from the Passion and the lower the corresponding events from the Old Testament. For instance, the scene of the Entombment of Christ is above that of Jonah and the Whale. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4893:1, 2-1858 |
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| Record created | February 18, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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