Standing Cup

Art Historical Context

This elegant standing cup, made of silver between 1800 and 1830 by the American silversmiths George and Alfred Welles, reflects the refined craftsmanship of the early republic. Measuring just over five and a half inches tall, the vessel features a balanced form with a flared lip and a sturdy circular base. Its modest scale and precise proportions suggest it was designed for both utility and display, typical of silver objects that marked special occasions in American homes. In the decades after the Revolution, silver remained a valued material that conveyed status and durability. Silversmiths working in this period often produced functional yet graceful pieces for dining or ceremonial use, drawing on European traditions while adapting them to local tastes. The cup’s recorded weight of roughly six ounces further illustrates the careful attention paid to material and balance. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing through the 1933 bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, the standing cup offers visitors a tangible connection to the skilled metalworking practices that helped shape everyday elegance in nineteenth-century America.

About the Artist

George Welles|Alfred Welles ( |American) · 1784 |1783 –1823 |1869

1784–1823|1783–1869