Decorative cups of this type, often incorporating exotic materials, were largely produced in Germany in the seventeenth century. Such pieces were brought together in ‘Kunstkammern’ or cabinets of wrought objects. George collected around 70 cups in this style, almost all purchased from the royal goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge & Rundell in the 1820s. Occasionally Rundells would enhance an object by adding precious stones and they would often include a turntable so that the king could view each piece in the round.