Two double standing cups (trussing cups) 1595 - 1605

Simon Pissinger, a German goldsmith, created this pair of silver-gilt stacking cups around the turn of the 17th century. The precious material speaks to the wealth of its original owner, but it's the making that really commands our attention. Consider the labor involved in raising, chasing, and gilding the silver. Each of these processes requires specialized knowledge and skill. The resulting surface is articulated with crisp, formal ornament, reflecting the period's fascination with classical antiquity, and the humanist aesthetic. The cups, made to be disassembled into individual cups, are literally made for convivial toasting. This brings us to the social context: objects like these cups played a central role in elite social rituals, occasions that served to reinforce bonds of kinship and political alliance. It's easy to see this object as simply decorative, but it's important to remember the extraordinary convergence of material, process, and social practice that it represents. By attending to these factors, we move beyond conventional hierarchies of art and craft, and gain a richer understanding of the past.