Two-handled cup with cover 1715 - 1725

This silver two-handled cup with a cover was crafted by Paul de Lamerie, an eminent silversmith working in 18th-century London. It exemplifies the luxury that defined elite social rituals of the period. The cup’s elaborate design isn't merely decorative. The engraved coat of arms declares the owner's status and lineage. De Lamerie’s success was deeply entwined with the social hierarchies of his time; his workshop catered to the aristocracy and the burgeoning merchant class, who used objects like this to display their wealth and taste. The cup thus reflects the intense competition for social status that defined Georgian England. It speaks volumes about how art served to reinforce existing power structures. To fully understand this cup, we might delve into genealogical records, historical accounts of London's silver trade, and studies of consumer culture in the 1700s. The art historian’s task is to uncover the complex web of social relations that shaped the creation and use of such objects.