Beaker
1690–1700
Medium
Silver gilt
Dimensions
Overall: 4 × 3 1/4 in. (10.2 × 8.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
German, Augsburg
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.74
Tags
Art Historical Context
Crafted by the skilled Augsburg silversmith Paulanier around 1690–1700, this exquisite silver gilt beaker exemplifies the pinnacle of late Baroque metalwork from southern Germany. Standing just 4 inches tall, its petite scale belies the opulence of silver coated in a thin layer of gold, a technique that lent a radiant, jewel-like sheen to elite tableware. Augsburg was Europe's premier hub for silver production during this era, renowned for its master craftsmen who combined technical virtuosity with lavish decoration to serve the nobility and burgeoning merchant class. The beaker's surface lik...