Cup with cover 1575 - 1605

This cup with cover was crafted with rock crystal, enamel, and gold by Anton Schweinberger, a German artist active around 1600. The cup is a beautiful example of the luxury arts cultivated in Europe's princely courts. Rock crystal was a prized material, and the complex forms carved from it signaled the wealth and refinement of both artist and patron. But such displays of virtuosity also had a social function. At a time of great political and religious tension, luxury goods served to enhance the prestige of rulers and cement social bonds within their circles. Examining court inventories, heraldic emblems, and other archival sources can help us understand who commissioned such objects and the specific meanings they held in their original settings. By studying the cultural and institutional history surrounding works like this, we can appreciate their significance as more than just beautiful objects.