Images(24)

The Morgan Cup

Object NameCup

Made FromGlass

Date1-50

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)

Ancient

Exhibitions

Roman Landscapes: Visions of Nature and Myth from Rome to Pompeii

Morgan: Mind of the Collector

Glass of the Caesars

Cameo Glass: Masterpieces from 2000 Years of Glassmaking

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

The 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.

Place Made

Roman Empire; probably Italy

Physical DescriptionCup, “The Morgan Cup”. Transparent blue and opaque white glass; blown, cased, carved, ground, polished; half-ovoid body, flattened at bottom; plain rim with internal bevel; side almost vertical at top, curving in towards bottom; flat base; wall and base cased to produce white relief ornament on blue background. Decoration on wall consists of continuous frieze between narrow borderline below rim and groundline above base, asteroid flower in double circle on base. Frieze is a ritual scene: priestess stands facing right, her right arm raised and fingers extended, bearing lighted token in left hand; in front of her, low table with stepped base and baluster; supporting altar with burning pinecone, and fruits; beyond this, herm of Priapus on pedestal, which is garlanded; behind priestess, female with ewer in right hand and tray of objects in left hand at shoulder height; she looks back over right shoulder, and has hair drawn up on top of head and wears Greek tunic; behind her, large handleless krater on gadrooned foot, and behind this another ritual scene; young satyr wearing loincloth bound at waist, fastens one end of curtain to top of column, other end being tied to branches of tree; below curtain, between column and tree, second female kneels facing right, lifts sheet from straight-sided basket; behind tree, donkey stands facing right, tethered to branch, saddled and bridled, stool-like object on top of saddle. Flower has four pointed oval petals with median grooves alternating with four triangular petals with median grooves.
Provenance

Provenance Remark

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