Two-handled Cup 1725 - 1750

This two-handled cup was crafted by Joseph Goldthwait, a silversmith active in Boston during the 18th century. It is made of hammered silver, its smooth surface adorned only by a set of initials. Observe the cup's handles, their elegant curves evoke a sense of refinement. These forms, reminiscent of stylized volutes, echo classical motifs, which wind their way back to ancient Greek pottery. Vessels like this one are often ceremonial, representing both the practicality of sustenance and the symbolic weight of ritual. Consider the presence of handles on a cup, their duality not merely functional. In heraldry, paired figures often symbolize balance and union. The act of grasping these handles, raising the cup, and partaking in its contents becomes a gesture laden with social and spiritual meaning, a dance between the individual and the collective. It's a tangible link to the past, subtly transformed yet enduringly potent.