Case, Cup

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Since travelers in the Middle Ages usually carried their own eating utensils, there were a number of leather cases molded to fit the shapes of cups, knives, forks, or spoons, which would protect the objects while they were being carried on a journey. As such objects were often made of costly materials, their value alone warranted the making of cases for them, often with rich decoration. Lavishly tooled and painted cases made for the imperial crown and ceremonial sword of the Holy Roman Empire have survived. However, others less ornately adorned and identifiable by their shapes as bases for a variety of eating utensils and drinking vessels are not uncommon. While the shape of this case is not explicit, it was probably intended for a wine cup or similar drinking vessel. The loops on the sides, through which a strap could be passed, indicate that the case was designed to be transported.

Medieval Art and The Cloisters

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world. Displayed in both The Met Fifth Avenue and in the Museum's branch in northern Manhattan, The Met Cloisters, the collection encompasses the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome in the fourth century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the early sixteenth century. It also includes pre-medieval European works of art created during the Bronze Age and early Iron Age.

Metropolitan Museum of Art