Cup with Cover

R W

1590–91 · Mother-of-pearl, with gilded silver mounts · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Principally sourced from the interiors of exotic shells, Indian mother-of-pearl was admired and sought after by Europeans, and imports sold at astronomical prices. Though some vessels worked by Gujarati craftsmen (from Western India) were kept in their original forms, others—such as this one—were carefully dismantled and their mother-of-pearl inlays set in new precious-metal mounts. The extremely delicate gilded silver foot and cover decorated with miniature heraldic roses locate this piece to Elizabethan London.

Artist

R W

Date

1590–91

Medium

Mother-of-pearl, with gilded silver mounts

Culture

British, London

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1968