Cup with Cover
Title: Cup with Cover
Artist: Hans Van Amsterdam
Date: Between 1533/1534
Location: Amsterdam
Materials and technique: Metalwork-Silver In Combination, Silver Gilt, Coconut Shell
Dimensions: 10 7/8 × 3 7/8 in. (27.6 × 9.8 cm)
Rights/ Image Permissions: Public Domain. Courtesy of the Met Collection
Artist: Hans Van Amsterdam
Date: Between 1533/1534
Location: Amsterdam
Materials and technique: Metalwork-Silver In Combination, Silver Gilt, Coconut Shell
Dimensions: 10 7/8 × 3 7/8 in. (27.6 × 9.8 cm)
Rights/ Image Permissions: Public Domain. Courtesy of the Met Collection
Cup with Cover by Hans van Amsterdam was referred to as the “coconut cup and “Indian nut.” This extravagant cup became popular in early Greek and Roman culture as it was known for its “Miraculous powers.” The power that this cup held was one that many other cups did not have. They believed whatever was put into this cup the cup would cleanse it. This was the case because of the odd shape of the nut was a believed to be a “medicinal antidote.” This cup has some unique carvings with deep meaning. The writing and symbols seen on the cup are themes from the Old Testament that give the cup the power. The three themes are engraved on the cup as is:
GENESIS:C:19 (Lot and his daughters) Lot and his daughters come from the Book of Genesis (19) Lot’s daughters were two angels that came to the city and the men of the city found out and demanded that Lot handed over the angels. The angels then struck the men and made them blind demanding them all to leave the city before it is destroyed.
IVDICVM C:14 (Samson and the Lion) Samson and the Lion was a very interesting story as Samson defeats the lion with his bare hands showing his power.
2 Regum Cap II (David and Bathsheba) David ended up getting married to Bathsheba after her husband passed away. Punishment came along with this and god ended up killing David's first born.
All three of these stories exemplify stories of power and I believe all in all that is what the Cup with Cover represents. It did not take long before many other Artist were designing these powerful coconut cups. Some of the artist were Albrecht Altdorfer, Hans Brosamer, and Hieronymus Hopfer.
GENESIS:C:19 (Lot and his daughters) Lot and his daughters come from the Book of Genesis (19) Lot’s daughters were two angels that came to the city and the men of the city found out and demanded that Lot handed over the angels. The angels then struck the men and made them blind demanding them all to leave the city before it is destroyed.
IVDICVM C:14 (Samson and the Lion) Samson and the Lion was a very interesting story as Samson defeats the lion with his bare hands showing his power.
2 Regum Cap II (David and Bathsheba) David ended up getting married to Bathsheba after her husband passed away. Punishment came along with this and god ended up killing David's first born.
All three of these stories exemplify stories of power and I believe all in all that is what the Cup with Cover represents. It did not take long before many other Artist were designing these powerful coconut cups. Some of the artist were Albrecht Altdorfer, Hans Brosamer, and Hieronymus Hopfer.
Sources:
“Cup with Cover .” Metmuseum.org, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/193595?who=Amsterdam%2BHans%2Bvan%24Hans%2Bvan%2BAmsterdam&ao=on&ft=%2A&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=1.
“Bathsheba.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bathsheba-biblical-figure.
Wikipedia article on this object: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_with_cover
“Cup with Cover .” Metmuseum.org, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/193595?who=Amsterdam%2BHans%2Bvan%24Hans%2Bvan%2BAmsterdam&ao=on&ft=%2A&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=1.
“Bathsheba.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bathsheba-biblical-figure.
Wikipedia article on this object: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_with_cover