The Vapheio Cup is so names because it was found in a large tomb at Vapheio, on the Greek mainland south of Sparta. The Minoan metalsmiths were highly trained artists, whose work was greatly sought after. The relief design was made by hammering from the back of the sheet of metal. This technique is called repousse. The cup is very striking but what catches my attention is that something like the Vapheio Cup was sought after by others not just because it was a gold cup, but because it made by a highly prized metalsmith. This is similar to the way someone would seek after a piece of Jewlery, or to link a more specific example a baby cup from a rewnound "metalsmith" of this century, lets say Tiffany & Co.
This sterling silver baby cup was made by Tiffany & Co. circa 1891-1902. It is 3 1/2 inces tall, and there is an engraving on the bottom that gives us an estimate on teh date, it reads: "Katharine Smith FROM Commadore W. H. Starbuck, Oct 18 1894". This baby's cup recently sold at auction for $3,700.00. This goes to show that fine metal craftsmanship, no matter what the century will always be highly sought after.
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