Coconut Cup
| Maker | The Silversmith "M.J." |
|---|---|
| Title | Coconut Cup |
| Date | Ca. 1700 |
| Medium | Coconut and silver gilding |
| Dimensions | Object: 7 3/8 × 4 5/16 × 4 5/16 in. (18.7 × 11 × 11 cm) Overall (Rim Diameter Included): 7 3/8 × 4 5/16 × 4 5/16 × 3 7/8 in. (18.7 × 11 × 11 × 9.8 cm) |
| Credit Line | Evan F. Lilly Memorial, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana.University |
| Accession Number | 72.52 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A coconut that has been transformed into a cup by adding a silver frame, lip, and base. The silver frame is decorated and the coconut shell is smooth and dark brown.
Although embellished with costly silver, this cup reflects European interest in the natural world and foreign lands, which was fueled by colonial endeavors. The coconut, often described as an “Indian nut” in Renaissance-era inventories, was a rare and exotic fruit to Europeans, who believed it had medicinal qualities.
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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Cite this page
"Coconut 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=72.52