Covered Cup

Upon first glance, this covered cup appears to be a traditional work of 18th-century silver. Then the viewer realizes that the very part of the cup that must be grasped in order to hold it is the very thing that most loathe to touch. A pair of realistic snakes pierces the silver and writhes around the vessel to form scaly handles. This unexpected encounter is achieved with grotesque ornamentation: an unconventional combination of natural forms, earthly creatures and monstrous figures. Paul de Lamerie excelled at adapting myriad European designs and grotesque ornamentation into distinctive creations of exceptional style. Other unexpected creatures, such as lions' faces and marine masks, emerge from the lid and punctuate the base of the cup.