Cup and Holder
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Cup: porcelain; glazed and painted Holder: silver; pierced, engraved, and inlaid
Dimensions
cup (89.2.2162a): H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) Diam. 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm) Wt. 0.7 oz. (19.847 g) cup holder (89.2.2162b): H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm) Diam. 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm) Wt. 0.9 oz (19.847 g)
Classification
Metal
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889
Accession Number
89.2.2162a, b
Art Historical Context
This delicate "Cup and Holder" from the 19th century exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Islamic art, blending porcelain and silver in a functional yet ornate ensemble. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art Department, the set was a gift from Joseph W. Drexel in 1889. The porcelain cup, standing just 1 3/8 inches tall with a 2 3/16-inch diameter, is glazed and painted, offering a smooth, luminous surface ideal for serving hot beverages like coffee or tea—staples in Ottoman and Persian social rituals. The accompanying silver holder, slightly taller at 1 5/8 inches, show...