Standing cup 1730 - 1740

This standing cup was made by Thomas Sutton in England in the early 18th century. Crafted from silver, it stands just over five inches tall and can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Such objects offer a glimpse into the social and economic structures of the time. Silver, then as now, was a valuable material, and the craftsmanship evident in this cup suggests it was made for someone of considerable means. The very act of drinking from a vessel like this was a display of status, a ritual performed within the confines of a specific social class. Objects like these are not just pretty things, they are historical documents that reflect the values, tastes, and social hierarchies of their era. By studying the materials, techniques, and styles of such objects, and by researching the historical context in which they were made and used, we can learn a great deal about the lives of those who commissioned, created, and consumed them.