Lycurgus Cup

The glass can appear green or red as the lighting changes. Carved figures form a raised openwork scene around the cup. Look into the spaces between them to see how far the maker worked back the surface. The scene shows the punishment of Lycurgus, a king from Greek myth. The cup was made in the fourth century AD, when Roman makers were working with glass in demanding forms. Its colour-changing effect belongs to the ancient glass. The silver-gilt rim and foot are later mounts. They give the object its present outline, but they were not part of the original Roman cup. The Museum purchased it from Victor Rothschild in 1958 with Art Fund support. Watch the glass under the display lighting without expecting to handle it or change the light yourself. Its different colours depend on the conditions of viewing.