What’s a Loving Cup? For me, it's a nice cuppa Earl Grey with a shot of Jamesons. It’s also a classic Rolling Stones song. Most importantly, it’s a large, silver cup with two or more handles, which would usually contain wine and be passed around a group; as part of a ceremony symbolizing unity and friendship, it’s believed to predate Christianity. Often used in the past couple of centuries at banquets or weddings, Loving cups became a popular motif for trophies in the 19th and early 20th century.
This is a beautiful sterling silver loving cup made by the American silversmiths at Reed & Barton. The elegant design features a circular, cup-shaped body on a flaring shaped, circular base, while the three side handles have an organic curve and are embellished with sculpturally rendered flowers and leafy vines. This trophy, with an exquisite Art Nouveau sensibility, weighs approx. 26 troy ounces and is marked under the base with the mark of Reed & Barton, the word Sterling, and pattern number 420.
This elegant loving cup is made by the premier American silversmiths at Tiffany in a timeless neoclassical design. It stands on a domed circular base and has a large urn-shaped body with three architecturally shaped handles. The body is decorated with three vacant shield-shaped cartouches embellished with bellflowers and bowed paterae at intervals. The rim and base of the cup are both decorated with borders of geometric designs and small flowers, along with a band of dentil molding. The handles are also trimmed with bellflowers. All of the decoration is unified and compliments the strong silhouette of this design. It is marked under the base with the maker’s mark of Tiffany & Co., the words Makers, Sterling Silver 925-1000, pattern number 16603F1, order number 6931, the letter M for John C. Moore, Tiffany’s president from 1907-1947. This beautiful antique silver loving cup is truly a classic interpretation of the Adams style, and would make a distinctive addition to any interior.
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