Cup with Gilded-Silver Mounts
Unknown Artist
1375–1400
Medium
Rock crystal, silver, silver-gilt, enamel?
Dimensions
Overall: 5 9/16 x 6 1/2 x 4 7/16 in. (14.1 x 16.5 x 11.3 cm) Diameter of rim: 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm) Base: 3 9/16 in. (9.1 cm)
Classification
Lapidary Work-Crystal
Culture
French or Italian
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.611a
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Cup with Gilded-S Mounts*, dating to 1375–1400, exemplifies the opulent lapidary arts of late medieval France or Italy. Crafted from translucent rock crystal—a rare, durable material prized for its clarity and—the vessel's bowl was meticulously hollowed and polished by skilled artisans. Encircling its rim and base are ornate mounts of silver and silver-gilt, possibly adorned with enamel, which elevate the cup from functional object to a symbol of prestige. Such pieces were likely commissioned for nobility or ecclesiastical use, evoking the lavish tastes of the Gothic era. The ...