Cup with cover ("Permoser Cup") 1750 - 1775

This covered cup was crafted in Dresden by the artist S.W., its form and decoration steeped in symbolism. Dominating the cup’s structure is a cherubic figure acting as a caryatid. Note how this figure is not merely decorative; it bears the weight of the vessel, much like the ancient Greek caryatids supporting the Erechtheion. The cherub is swathed in garlands, evoking images of fertility and abundance linked to classical depictions of Cupid or Bacchus, symbols of love and wine. See how this intertwining of Christian and pagan motifs is not uncommon, reflecting a Renaissance fascination with antiquity and its integration into contemporary artistic expression. But consider, too, how this symbol has evolved: the cherub, once a divine messenger, now serves as a structural support, bearing the weight of worldly pleasures. The cup becomes a vessel laden with complex meanings, echoing through the corridors of time and resonating in our collective memory.