Globe cup c. 1640

This silver globe cup was crafted by Christoph Ritter III in the 17th century. Here, we see Atlas, the Titan of Greek myth, forever burdened with holding up the celestial sphere. His strained posture speaks of enduring strength, yet also of perpetual suffering. Atlas's image, the cosmos on his shoulders, connects to a long line of symbolic representations of order and burden. In ancient Egypt, we see similar figures supporting the sky. This motif resurfaces across cultures, each time imbued with new layers of meaning. Here, the globe itself is engraved with constellations, echoing the celestial maps found in Renaissance-era star charts. Consider how the weight of the world, or in this case, the heavens, is a projection of our deepest anxieties. Atlas embodies the strain of responsibility and the weight of existence. This globe cup is a potent reminder of the burdens we carry. It speaks to the cyclical nature of history, where ancient symbols are reborn, transformed by the anxieties and aspirations of each new age.