Cup
1863-1864 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Colour is introduced onto this drinking cup through the inclusion of semi-precious stones, and a band of cameos and gems. Despite their use here, Burges claimed to dislike faceted gems, preferring the medieval style of cabochons (unfaceted stones encased in boxes). He described those as follows: 'these strips of jewels, and enamels and filigree are the great key to the decorations of jewellery of the Middle Ages'.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, parcel-gilt, set with applied ornament and enamelled |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Made for James Nicholson (Burges' patron) Inscribed: OMNIS MUNDI CREATURA QUASI LIBER ET PICTURA NOBIS EST ET SPECULUM; I.N MAA ANO. DNI. MDCCCLXIII; NOSTRAE VITAE NOSTRAE MORTIS NOSTRI STATUS NOSTRAE SORTIS FIDELE SIGNACULUM ("This is a kind of book, picture or mirror of all the creatures of the world"; "A faithful expression of our life, our death, our status, our type/class"). Colour is introduced onto this drinking cup through the inclusion of semi-precious stones, and a band of cameos and gems. Despite their use here, Burges claimed to dislike facetted gems, preferring the medieval style of "cabochons" (unfacetted stones encased in boxes). He described those as follows: "these strips of jewels, and enamels and filigree are the great key to the decorations of jewellery of the Middle Ages". |
| Summary | Colour is introduced onto this drinking cup through the inclusion of semi-precious stones, and a band of cameos and gems. Despite their use here, Burges claimed to dislike faceted gems, preferring the medieval style of cabochons (unfaceted stones encased in boxes). He described those as follows: 'these strips of jewels, and enamels and filigree are the great key to the decorations of jewellery of the Middle Ages'. |
| Bibliographic reference | Turner, Eric, An Introduction to English Silver from 1660 (V&A Introductions to the Decorative Arts), London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1985.
p.32 ill. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.858-1956 |
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| Record created | March 3, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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