Zilveren trouwbeker in de vorm van een vrouw, daarnaast twee zilveren en vergulde bekers 1869 - 1887

These three vessels, including a silver-gilt wedding cup in the form of a woman, date back to around 1600. They would have been made using skills passed down through generations of silversmiths. The key piece is the “Jungfrauenbecher”, or maiden cup. Its innovative design allowed a bride and groom to drink simultaneously. The lady’s skirt forms one cup, while another swivels above her head. All these pieces were raised and hammered from sheets of silver, a laborious process. The surfaces were engraved with patterns, and details added with chasing tools. Gilding – applying gold leaf – would have been the final flourish. These cups weren't just functional. They were symbols of wealth, status, and the importance of marriage alliances. Their precious materials and the labor involved in their creation, speak volumes about the hierarchical society from which they emerged. In considering the artistry and craftsmanship of these vessels, we can appreciate the social and economic contexts that gave rise to them.