Beaker 1710 - 1720

This silver beaker was made in Metz by an artist with the initials P.P. You can see that it's made of two parts: the plain, cylindrical cup at the top and the decorated base. Now, silver is a soft and precious material, and demands great skill to work. Look at how the decoration has been achieved. The silversmith will have used specialist hammers to push the metal from behind, creating the raised, radiating pattern. The level of detail suggests that the piece was chased or engraved to add definition to the ornate motifs. It would be fascinating to know who owned the beaker, and how it was used. Was it a domestic item, or intended for some other purpose? The high level of skill involved in the making of this piece challenges the traditional distinctions between craft and fine art, inviting questions about the value we place on these objects.