What: Silver gilt drinking cup taken by the British Museum’s expert on the expedition, Richard Rivington Holmes

Where: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG

Provenance: Maqdala referenced at length in the museum’s acquisition notes.

The catalogue entry reads:

“Drinking cup made of silver gilt with narrower base tapering to a wider rim. The cup is formed from one sheet of repoussé worked silver, soldered along one length and to a circular base of pain silver. The outer surface is decorated with round topped columns of alternating plain, chevron and lozenged shaped decorations. Additional crescent and circular motifs have been punched onto the surface.”

Details
Museum number: Af1868,1001.9
Date: 19thC
Diameter: 10.5 cm
Height: 12.5 cm
Previous owner/ex-collection: Sir Richard Rivington Holmes
Acquisition date: 1868