Standing Cup
Virgilius Solis (German, 1514–1562)
mid- to late 1500s
Medium
gilt silver
Dimensions
50.8 × 20.4 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
John L. Severance Fund
Accession Number
1962.286
Tags
male
About this artwork
Large ceremonial silver cups with covers were a status symbol in the late 16th century, particularly when gilded like this superb example from Nuremberg. Stylish and grand, these cups provided the ultimate vessel from which a royal guest or aristocratic visitor could drink at a formal banquet. They came to be known as willkom, or welcome cups, as a result. The lid, mid-section, and base are all cast in sections, creating imposing height and stability for the great amount of silver used, a testam...