Cup and Cover
1717 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Many guilds and societies in the 17th century owned a modest collection of silver. This was partly to display at formal occasions and partly as a financial investment. This cup belonged to the Brotherhood of Grünhagen, near Lüneburg, a financial association founded in 1616 to provide free funerals for its members and their families. Unsurprisingly, new members had to be under 40, in good health and of 'blameless character'. Paupers and soldiers were excluded from subscribing! Appropriately, all the inscriptions and engraved images on the pendant shields and flag allude to death and the vanity of human life. Described in the inscription as a 'wilkomm' or welcome cup, it would have been filled with wine and passed around the members during ceremonial occasions as an act of fellowship.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Silver-gilt |
| Brief description | Cup and cover, gilded silver, Germany (Hanover), mark of Carolus Junger, 1717 |
| Physical description | Pinched cylinder form on double-knopped stem standing on circular base, the lid surmounted by a figure holding a coat of arms and a flag, the body of the cup displaying medals related to death. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Many guilds and societies of the period owned a modest collection of silver, partly to display at formal occasions, and partly as a financial investment. This cup of 1717 is identified by an inscription as the Wilkomm of the Hanover Brotherhood. This primarily financial association, founded in 1616, provided free funerals for its members and their families. Unsurprisingly new members had to be under 40, in good health and of 'blameless character'. Paupers and soldiers were excluded. The inscriptions on the cup and on the pendant shields all refer in some way to death. |
| Summary | Many guilds and societies in the 17th century owned a modest collection of silver. This was partly to display at formal occasions and partly as a financial investment. This cup belonged to the Brotherhood of Grünhagen, near Lüneburg, a financial association founded in 1616 to provide free funerals for its members and their families. Unsurprisingly, new members had to be under 40, in good health and of 'blameless character'. Paupers and soldiers were excluded from subscribing! Appropriately, all the inscriptions and engraved images on the pendant shields and flag allude to death and the vanity of human life. Described in the inscription as a 'wilkomm' or welcome cup, it would have been filled with wine and passed around the members during ceremonial occasions as an act of fellowship. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 116&A-1864 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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