1942.65

The Drake Cup

Abraham Gessner (Silversmith),

General Description: A late 16th Century silver gilt and parcel gilt terrestrial globe cup and cover by Abraham Gessner. The terrestrial globe is in two halves forming the bowl and cover, engraved with the then known map of the world as recorded by mercator in 1587. The land is in gilt, the seas in silver and the names of the Continents, islands and seas in Latin. The cover with an armillary sphere finial, supported on a vase-shaped knopf, is decorated with lion's masks and cherubs with caryatid scrolls. The bowl with scroll work and baluster knopf is decorated with figures of Neptune and sea monsters. Architectural panel scenes on base. (, )

, 1571 - 1595, 1595 c

Munich (Silversmith)

16th century

whole: silver, whole: parcel gilt

Grant: National Art Collections Fund
Grant: Friends of Plymouth City Museums & Art Gallery