Standing Cup
1800–1830
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: H. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm); 6 oz. 5 dwt. (193.8 g) Lip: Diam. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm) Base: Diam. 3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm)
Classification
Cup
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.234
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 ...
About the Artist
George Welles|Alfred Welles ( |American) · 1784 |1783 –1823 |1869
1784–1823|1783–1869