The State Hermitage Museum: Exhibitions

This excellent gilt cup was executed by the famous master Heinrich Jonas in the 1580s. The cup is made from a nautilus shell in a silver mount, its cup has chased figures of dolphins and ducks amidst waves and is surmounted with a figure of a swan. Atop the shell is Neptune riding a dolphin. The use of rare materials like natural shells, ostrich eggs or coconut shells for the creation of various vessels by goldsmiths and silversmiths was widespread during Renaissance. In the 16th century such rarities were kept in kunstkammers which obtained almost at every European court.