Beaker
Unknown Artist
c. late 600s–early 700s
Medium
silver with gilding
Dimensions
h. 10.2 cm · diam. 10.2 cm
Classification
Silver
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
1988.67.2
About this artwork
The circular shapes of the cup’s handle feature a flat edge on which the user rested their thumb for better grip, a design characteristic of silver objects made during the 700s by Sogdian artists, who traveled from Central Asia along international trade routes. An ownership inscription in Tibetan script on the underside of the cup identifies the vessel as a personal possession. The circles and lines carved below this inscription are likely measurements recording the weight of the silver used for...