The Morgan Cup
Object NameCup
Made FromGlass
Date1-50
Place MadeRoman Empire; probably Italy
TechniqueBlown, cased, carved, ground, polished
SizeOverall H: 6.2 cm; Rim Diam: 7.6 cm
Accession Number52.1.93
Credit LineGift of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr.
Curatorial Area(s)
Exhibitions
Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking
Glass of the Caesars
Morgan: Mind of the Collector
Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome to Pompeii
On ViewAncient Gallery
Interpretive NotesThe Morgan Cup is a rare example of Roman cameo glass. Cameo glass is made by encasing one color with one or more layers of contrasting colored glass. After cooling, the outer layer is cut away to create a scene in relief. Depicted here is a pregnant woman who worships at an outdoor sanctuary. This cup is named after J. Pierpont Morgan, who once owned it.
Provenance
Source
Arthur A. Houghton Jr.
- 1951-07
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
Former Collection
J. Pierpont Morgan
(American, 1937-1913) - 1912
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
Former Collection
Pierpont Morgan Library
- 1912
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
Former Collection
Joseph-Ange Durighello
- 1903
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
Former Collection
Moutran Pasha
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
The Morgan Cup was gifted to the Museum in 1952 by Arthur A. Houghton Jr. He acquired it from the Pierpont Morgan Library/J. Pierpont Morgan. The Morgan Library purchased the cup from a May 24, 1912 auction at the Hotel Drouot (A dealer by the name of M. Sambon was bidding on behalf of the Library). Prior to that (somewhere about 1903) the cup was purchased (perhaps in Paris) by Joseph Durighello. Joseph Durighello later used the cup as collateral to borrow money from Moutran Pasha. The provenance of the cup prior to c. 1903 is unclear. The cup is purported to have been found at Heraclee-du-Pont
Former Collection
Branteghem
