Cup
Unknown Artist
16th century with modern mounts
Medium
Rock crystal, enameled gold
Dimensions
Overall: 5 3/8 × 5 3/8 × 3 3/4 in. (13.7 × 13.7 × 9.5 cm)
Classification
Natural Substances-Rock Crystal
Culture
probably Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The F.O. Matthiessen Collection, Gift of Mrs. Emma Matthiessen, in memory of her husband, 1904
Accession Number
04.6.32
Art Historical Context
This exquisite rock crystal cup, likely crafted in Italy during the 16th, exemplifies the Renaissance fascination with natural wonders and opulent craftsmanship. Carved from a single piece of translucent rock crystal—a rare, ice-clear quartz prized for its purity and luster—the bowl measures a delicate 5⅜ × 5⅜ × 3¾ inches. Its faceted surfaces catch and refract light, evoking era's alchemical pursuit of perfection in art and nature. The modern enameled gold mounts, with their vibrant, glassy enamels fused to gold, enhance its jewel-like allure, transforming a functional vessel into a collector...