Two-handled cup 1791 - 1792

This is a silver two-handled cup made by John Langlands, a silversmith active in Newcastle, England, during the 18th century. The cup’s simple, elegant design and the engraved monogram suggest it was likely commissioned for a special occasion within a wealthy family. Cups like this were not just functional objects, but potent symbols of status and belonging. The choice of silver, the craftsmanship, and even the specific form of the monogram, all speak to a desire to display social standing. Silversmiths like Langlands operated within a complex network of workshops, guilds, and patrons. Their success depended on understanding the visual codes of gentility and producing objects that met those expectations. By studying objects like this, alongside probate records, guild archives, and other historical documents, we can gain insight into the social and economic structures of 18th-century England. We can begin to understand how objects mediated social relationships and how taste itself became a marker of identity.