Standing cup with cover 1850 - 1860

Franz Paul Zach created this standing cup with cover in the 19th century. The cup strikes a balance between opulence and delicacy, with the intricate metalwork contrasting with the glass. The eye is immediately drawn to the cup’s silhouette, where the cylindrical body is supported by an elaborate stem and base, crowned with a domed cover and equestrian figure. The artist plays with transparency by etching a landscape onto the glass body, juxtaposing it with the opaque metal elements. Note how the ornamental details, such as the frieze of classical figures and the textured surface of the dome, add layers of visual complexity. Zach employs the interplay of materials to explore the boundaries between surface and depth. This approach destabilizes traditional notions of form and function. The cup becomes a site of aesthetic experimentation.