Collections

Silver Wedding Cup

Silver Wedding Cup - Cup, Bride’s
Accession #: 784.42
Title: Silver Wedding Cup
Object Type: Cup, Bride’s
Participants:
Physical Description: Silver wedding cup in shape of a woman holding a cup above her head. The cup is pivoted, so that when the figure is inverted, the skirt forms an upper cup, and the bowl a lower one. This cup includes ornate raised decorations on both the upper bowl and cup. Both cup rims plated in gold toned metal.
Description: Silver wedding cups, in the form of a girl in a wide spreading skirt, holding a bowl over her head, first appeared in Germany about 1575, and continued in fashion through the 17th century. Many were made at Nuremberg, Germany. The groom was supposed to drink the contents of the larger cup, without spilling any from the smaller, which he passed to his bride. These were also known as wager cups. This cup belonged to Helen Campbell Powell.
Category: Campbell Collection
Subjects/Topics/Concepts:
Decorative Arts (Decorative Arts), Marriage (Communication->Ceremonial)
Geographical Reference: Campbell House (Washington->Spokane County->Spokane)
Dimensions:
Object H x W 3 1/4 x 2"
Object Diameter 1 1/2" (lower cup)
Materials/Techniques:
silver (Material)
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Helen Campbell Powell, 1960

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