The sides of this cup contain medallions with a profile portrait of Elizabeth I, Empress of Russia from 1741-1762, the double-headed eagle (emblem of the Russian Empire) and the empress's monogram EP (Elizabeth Petrovna) placed under a crown. The mask-like foliate design in the repoussé indicates a Dutch influence. The cup was made by an unknown silversmith who signed with the initials 'VD', active 1741-1753, and assayed by Egor Ivanov, active 1752-1758.
Cups such as this were presented to members of the empress's guard regiments.