Cup with cover

Art Historical Context

This exquisite *Cup with Cover*, created around 1560–70 by an unknown artist in Freiburg Breisgau, Germany, exemplifies Renaissance-era fascination with luxury materials and virtuoso craftsmanship. Fashioned from translucent rock crystal—a rare, naturally occurring quartz prized for its clarity and durability—the vessel features elegant gilded silver mounts that elevate its form into a functional work of art. Measuring -1/2 inches high with a 3-1/8-inch diameter, it was likely designed as a drinking cup for the elite, blending utility with opulent display. Freiburg im Breisgau emerged as a ke...