Although this cup was likely to have been mounted in Dresden, Leipzig or Nuremberg, the cup itself is probably Indian in origin. The body is made from panels of mother-of-pearl laid over a thin wooden core. It was purchased by George IV from Rundell's in December 1826. Along with the Nikolaus Schmidt nautilus cup, this cup was lent by Queen Victoria for display at the 1850 Exhibition of Ancient and Medieval Art, held in the House of the Society of Arts.