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Cup or pouring vessel: M.27-1933

An image of Cup
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Current Location: Gallery 32 (Rothschild)

Titles

Cup or pouring vessel

Maker(s)

Maker: Pfaff, Nikolaus (Possibly)
Maker: uncertain (Possibly)

Entities

Categories

Description

Carved and polished ivory

Ivory, carved and polished. In the form of an wide-mouthed shell with one side higher than the other, and its narrow lower end resting on the back of a rabbit crouching on a flat almost circular base. Over the top of the higher side is a narrow grotesque owl mask with curling ear tufts, and long flaps extending over the sides, which creates a mouth-like pouring lip. Below it is a long leaf which extends over shell-like lobes until it meets the back of the rabbit. Below the rim on the opposite side there is a grotesque male mask with a beard n the form of serrated leaf, with on each side two more serrated acanthus leaves overlapping each other.

Notes

History note: Uncertain before donor

Legal notes

Given by Alfred A. de Pass

Measurements and weight

Height: 12.2 cm
Width: 9 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1933) by de Pass, Alfred A.

Dating

17th Century, Early
Circa 1600 CE - Circa 1610 CE

Note

Possibly made in Prague, by Nikolaus Pfaff (1556 (?) - before 1612) c.1600-10. Previously considered to be by a member of the van Vianen family.

School or Style

Mannerism

Components of the work

Decoration composed of ivory
Base Width 4.3 cm

Techniques used in production

Carving : Carved and polished ivory

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: oval paper label with a narrow black line around the edge enclosing the wording

  • Text: FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM/GIVEN BY/ALFRED A. DE PASS/1933
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Printed in black
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.27-1933
Primary reference Number: 31820

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 18 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Cup or pouring vessel" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/31820 Accessed: 2025-12-05 11:21:22

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/31820 |title=Cup or pouring vessel |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 11:21:22|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-31820

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