Standing cup 19th century

Curator: Before us is an intriguing "Standing Cup," an example of decorative art made by Elkington & Co. sometime in the 19th century. The piece resides here at the Metropolitan Museum. Editor: It has an oddly fairytale feel about it. It’s both grand and somewhat clumsy; the surface, from what I can see, looks uneven and worn. It reminds me of treasure from a shipwreck. Curator: Yes, there’s an evocative decay about it, like time is eating away at the very material. The piece incorporates ceramic and brass, among other metals, in its making. Can you talk more about your “shipwreck” impression? Editor: Well, consider the labor behind crafting such an object. Metalwork like this, even with signs of wear, suggests skilled labor and a desire to mimic more luxurious gold or silver. Mass production allows for aspirational beauty, for a democratization of craft. But there’s also something a little melancholy here. Curator: I understand the feeling. Looking at the detail on the cup portion itself, you get the sense of a symbolic language—the intricate engraving suggesting perhaps family crests or emblems that told stories once vivid, now mostly faded with time. And beneath, isn’t that a rather quirky-looking rooster supporting the goblet? It feels delightfully odd. Editor: The rooster… right! Almost as if nature is made to serve at the table. The choice of metals – brass most prominently – speaks to its status, right? It is luxury, of a certain degree, but not meant for royalty alone. More so the upwardly mobile merchant class wanting to display taste, wealth, culture… things literally standing on the backs of the working class! Curator: Perhaps you are correct. This blending of classical forms with… let's call it 'industrial accessibility' shows us the interesting crossroads where art and commerce meet during that time. This cup encapsulates both pride and transience. Editor: Indeed. We have looked at the interplay between aspirations, the materials used, and labor involved and how this seemingly ornamental thing offers much more profound insight. Curator: Thank you! It has given me new insights into this piece.