The Love Cup thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

The Love Cup

Pendant
1907 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Scottish artist Phoebe Traquair created embroidery, murals and illuminated manuscripts as well as painted enamels. She distinguished between 'epic' (large-scale) work such as tapestries and wall painting, and 'lyric' (small-scale) work. In 1901 she began her apprenticeship in enamelling to Lady Gibson Carmichael at Castlecraig. From this time enamelling replaced book illustration as her favourite small-scale medium. She created vivid foiled enamel scenes, usually of mythical or spiritual subjects. Both her technique and designs were strongly influenced by medieval and Renaissance examples. Her jewellery, triptychs, caskets and mounted cups and covers, for instance, are all based on historical pieces.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Love Cup
Materials and techniques
Painted enamel and gold
Brief description
Pendant of painted enamel set in gold, made by Phoebe Traquair, Edinburgh, 1907.
Physical description
Pendant with a painted enamel set in gold; 'The Love Cup' designed and made by Phoebe Traquair, 1907. The enamel panel depicts a central female figure holding a cup with four women either side of her.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8cm
  • Width: 5.4cm
  • Depth: 0.7cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Signed by the artist, titled and dated 1907 on the reverse.
Credit line
Given by Mrs H. V. Bartholomew
Subjects depicted
Summary
The Scottish artist Phoebe Traquair created embroidery, murals and illuminated manuscripts as well as painted enamels. She distinguished between 'epic' (large-scale) work such as tapestries and wall painting, and 'lyric' (small-scale) work. In 1901 she began her apprenticeship in enamelling to Lady Gibson Carmichael at Castlecraig. From this time enamelling replaced book illustration as her favourite small-scale medium. She created vivid foiled enamel scenes, usually of mythical or spiritual subjects. Both her technique and designs were strongly influenced by medieval and Renaissance examples. Her jewellery, triptychs, caskets and mounted cups and covers, for instance, are all based on historical pieces.
Collection
Accession number
M.194-1976

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Record createdApril 24, 2006
Record URL
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