Standing cup with cover 1585 - 1615

This Standing Cup with Cover was made around 1600 in Nuremberg, Germany, by Hans Wendel Pensel. It is made of coconut, silver and gold. It’s an example of the kind of luxury object that sustained the workshops of the early modern period. The image creates meaning through cultural references and historical associations, with its intricate ornamentation. The inclusion of the family crest at the centre signals both lineage and ownership. The piece reflects the social structures of its time. The precious materials would have signified the wealth and status of its owner. Nuremberg, as a center for craftsmanship and trade, provided the economic context for Pensel's workshop to flourish. The division of labor within the workshop can be understood through archival records like guild regulations and workshop inventories. Understanding this artwork is an exercise in historical interpretation, drawing on resources such as guild records and socio-economic histories. Art becomes meaningful when we examine its contingent relationship with social and institutional contexts.