Covered cup c. 1790

This striking covered cup, crafted from silver by an unknown artist, compels us to consider ideas of form and function. Its polished surface gleams under the gallery lights, showcasing a symmetrical design. Two handles curve elegantly upward, framing the cup's body, which tapers down to a slender base. The cup's structure encourages a semiotic reading. The reflective surface acts as a mirror, implicating the viewer in the art. The cup's inherent function as a vessel implies containment, but its ornate design elevates it beyond utility. Does it challenge fixed meanings, or does it engage with new ways of thinking about space, perception, power, or representation? Consider how the cup's design, though functional, transcends its practical use. The pure geometric shapes of the cup engage in a silent dialogue, echoing the structuralist idea that objects, like language, are governed by underlying systems of rules and relationships.