Search results

Start typing

Gold

The beauty and symbolism of gold, from the Early Bronze Age to the 20th century

BRITISH

The Rillaton cup

Early Bronze Age

Gold alloy | 8.5 cm (whole object) | RCIN 69742

A Bronze Age gold cup, formed from one sheet of gold and decorated with horizontal concentric corrugations, which continue downwards from the middle in a convex manner and upwards in a concave, terminating at the bottom around a central boss and flattening out at the top to create a rim. There are small areas of pontillé decoration below the rim and the handle and it is thought that there may have been further sections that have been polished off over time. The handle is made of a separate, flat piece of gold and is riveted to the body with six rivets and lozenge shaped washers. The handle is waisted in form, narrowing slightly as it travels away from the rim of the body and it is decorated with five grooves, originally small corrugations, that run the full length of the handle.

The cup is very rare example of early Bronze age gold and is one of only seven other Northern European examples. It is similar to another cup in the British Museum, The Ringlemere Cup; however this example has been severely crumpled during its history.

Catalogue entry from "Gold", London, 2014.

    The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.