Two-handled cup 1705

This two-handled cup was crafted by an unknown maker from sheets of sterling silver. Silverware like this wasn't simply manufactured, but skillfully wrought, often by a specialized silversmith, or within a workshop setting. The cup’s surface is highly polished, reflecting light, while the handles are elegantly curved, showing off the material’s malleability. Silver is prized for its luster, but also its resistance to tarnish, a sign of enduring value. The process of raising the cup from flat sheets of silver involves hammering, annealing, and planishing, which is no small feat. The decoration would require even more specialist knowledge and skill. Consider how the inherent qualities of silver—its cost, its workability, its historical association with wealth—contribute to the object’s significance. This cup is not just a functional object, but a potent symbol of status, reflecting social and economic hierarchies. Appreciating its making helps us to look beyond the obvious, and to consider the broader context of luxury and labor.