Ostrich Egg Cup

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Title Ostrich Egg Cup

Date 17th century

Medium Ostrich egg and silver gilding

Dimensions Object (without lid): 6 7/8 × 8 3/4 × 4 5/8 in. (17.5 × 22.2 × 11.7 cm)
Overall (with lid): 11 7/16 × 8 3/4 × 4 5/8 in. (29.1 × 22.2 × 11.7 cm)

Credit Line Evan F. Lilly Memorial, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 72.51.3

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About this Work

Although embellished with costly silver, this cup reflects European interest in the natural world and foreign lands, which was fueled by colonial endeavors. The large eggs laid by ostriches, a bird native to Africa, were considered a curiosity in Europe.

Provenance
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Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Ostrich Egg Cup | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=72.51.3