This pair of wedding goblets with lids is exceptionally rare in Dutch silver. Only one other Middelburg pair is known to exist, made two years earlier.

Both elegant goblets stand on a circular, domed foot bordered by a gadrooned rim. This decoration is echoed in the two nodes of the baluster-shaped stem and repeated on the rim of the lid. The lower half of each cup (cuppa) is fluted, with a scalloped edge above. The plain upper section of the cup is decorated with four cast masks, each framed by garlands of leaves.

The lids are particularly striking, surmounted by a pine-cone finial. Each is formed by four rising volutes that meet in the centre to support a scalloped plateau upon which the finial rests. The top of the lid is embossed with an acanthus-leaf rosette, adding a sculptural flourish.

Ceremonial Vessels of Union

Silver wedding goblets form a fascinating chapter in the history of European ceremonial silver. Their origins lie in the late Middle Ages, when drinking vessels were exchanged during wedding feasts to symbolise unity, fidelity, and shared life. In several regions, particularly in Germany and the Low Countries, the custom evolved in the 17th century into the use of special wager cups or wedding goblets shared by bride and groom during the celebration. Often presented as gifts from family or close friends, they were treasured possessions commemorating a union that was both social and spiritual.

In the Dutch tradition, wedding goblets were most often made as single standing cups, though on rare occasions in pairs such as this. Over time, the form became a showcase of silversmithing skill — a perfect balance of elegance, proportion, and ornamental refinement.

In their design and rarity, these goblets epitomise the splendour of eighteenth-century Dutch silver. Intended as marriage gifts, they embody the same ideals of unity and endurance that define the very institution they celebrate.

Both goblets are fully marked on the foot rim.

Provenance: Premsela & Hamburger, Delft, 1959
Exhibited: Nationalmuseum Stockholm, Hollands Guldälder, 1959, cat. no. 87