Loving cup
1772
Medium
Silver, silver gilt
Dimensions
Height: 5 in. (12.7 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Irish, Dublin
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1968
Accession Number
68.141.191
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Loving Cup*, crafted 1772 by Dublin silversmith Richard Williams exemplifies the refined artistry of 18th-century Irish silverwork. Standing just 5 inches (12.7 cm) tall, it is fashioned from silver with silver gilt accents—a technique where a thin layer of gold is over silver to create a luxurious, warm glow that enhances both durability and opulence. Produced in Dublin, a thriving hub for European metalwork during the Georgian era, such pieces were hallmarks of the decorative arts, blending functionality with heraldic splendor. Loving cups like this one held ceremonial signi...