Double shell cup decorated with vine scroll and putti

Double shell cup decorated in repousse high relief with separate cast foot. The handles were also separatedly casted in the form of a thumbplate with two ring handles below. Surface slightly abraded.

Historical period(s)
Roman period, ca. 30 BCE-100 CE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
H x W x D: 9.2 x 19.4 x 11.5 cm (3 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 4 1/2 in)
Geography
Syria
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1987.129
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Cup

Keywords
Roman Period (30 BCE - 395 CE), Syria
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Double shell cup decorated in repousse high relief with separate cast foot. The handles were also separatedly casted in the form of a thumbplate with two ring handles below. Surface slightly abraded.

Label

Two handled-drinking silver cups were popular throughout the ancient Mediterranean and Near eastern cultures between the 4th century BCE and the late Roman period. Often produced in pairs, they were particularly popular among wealthy Romans. The cups were decorated in a repousse high relief with the handles and feet cast separately.

Collection Area(s)
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use