Nautilus Cup

Rising out of the water, a triton (a merman-like sea creature) supports an irregularly shaped receptacle on his head and steadies it with his left hand. This silver cup captures the elegance and exotic appearance of the nautilus shell which had become increasingly available to Europeans through trade in the 16th century. Partial gilding, called parcel gilding, further enhances its sumptuous beauty and luxurious appearance. While collectors owned examples of actual shells, this was an age that also appreciated the artificial reproduction of natural forms. The cup bears the mark of the silversmith David Bessmann as well as the pinecone mark, visible on the shell rim, for the city of Augsburg.