Cup

Object Name:

Cup

Object ID:

1941.007.13

Place of Origin:

Paris, France

Date:

1819-1839

Description:

Wine Taster, a.k.a. Sommelier or Tastevin. Shallow silver cup, fully decorated, with ring handle. Bottom is flat and surrounded by repousse flute design, which extends from a circle of dots on bottom. Repousse designs on sides, including a ring of dots, from which extends flutes. Handle rises slightly above height of cup, and is in shape of a stylized snake, with eye on left end, and undulating tail on right end. Name engraved on wall of cup, near rim, "E.SUREAU", in block letters. Two hallmarks found, one on exterior of vessel wall near handle, depicting a right-facing bearded man's profile and a number 1 within a rectangular mark with cut corners (profile of Michelangelo, indicating a Paris, France, manufacture, 1819-1838, in a high silver standard of 950/1000); the other on interior of vessel wall, depicting a woman's profile within a circle mark, the woman wearing a beaded necklace and having distinctive hair (Paris, France, "guarantee mark" for large object, 1819-1838). Scratched numbers on bottom of vessel, "462/32" and "/0/-"; purpose of marks is undetermined. No maker's mark found.

Material:

Metal
Silver

Dimensions:

H-1.6 W-4.375 D-3.5 inches

Provenance:

From donor's silver collection. Hallmarks indicate that the piece was made in Paris between 1819 and 1838.

Credit Line:

Gift of Margaret H. Jewell

People:

Jewell, Margaret H. (1866-1970)

Subjects:

Wine