Cup with cover
19th century, after 1638 original
Medium
Silver on base metal
Dimensions
Height: 6 in. (15.2 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Electrotype
Culture
British, London, after British, London original
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, 1873
Accession Number
73.8.6a, b
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, this elegant *Cup with Cover* stands just 6 inches (15.2 cm) tall, a delicate 19th-century electrotype reproduction crafted by British makers Franchi and Son in London. Made of silver electroplated over base metal, it faithfully copies a prestigious original from London dating after 1638, evoking the refined silverwork of Stuart-era England. Electrotyping, a innovative 19th-century technique, allowed artisans to create precise, affordable duplicates of rare metal objects using electrolysis to deposit sil...