Some time ago Ampelio Vimercati wrote
"I send the photos of two silver "kantharos" I bought about twenty years ago.
They are 14 cm. high, diameter at the top 10.5 cm. (15.5 cm. at handles) and 5 cm. at the base and they weigh 910 and 978 grams respectively.
The Kantharos have no hallmark or maker's mark to indicate their origin and bear only a later fineness mark "800".
Anyway we are in the presence of beautiful artifacts, crafted by a highly skilled silversmith."

kantharos No 1: front	kantharos No 1: back	kantharos No 2: front	kantharos No 2: back

silver kantharos: detail	silver kantharos: detail

These images were an excellent base for a research of information about these objects and the original pieces that inspired their manufacture: a classical example of "Five Ws" (WHY, WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE) investigation (note 1).

The WHY
These cups are in full evidence the reproduction of ancient Roman vases made since the mid of the 19th century as a token of the "Grand Tour"(note 2) in Italy and later for decorative purposes. An example of a slightly different drinking cup ( a "Skyphos/Scyphus") made in Rome before 1870 is illustrated in Fred Sinfield/Giorgio Busetto article # 40 on ASCAS website (note 3).

the WHO
Isn't possible to identify the maker. Also the country of origin remains uncertain but it's highly probable that these cups were manufactured in Italy in the period 1870/1935 when the official marking was optional and only the fineness mark (800) was applied to silver pieces.

the WHAT
What is the Kantharos (Greek) or Cantharus (Latin)?
It is a bronze or silver cup with tapering body or in the shape of a hemisphere, raised up on a high foot, with two slender vertical handles, sometimes surmounting the rim. The body is often decorated with floral motifs or figural scenes. Examples of silver kantharos decorated with Tritons and Nereids (from Pompeii), grapevines (from Alesia), olive shoots and rich embossing (Pompeii, House of Menandro) and other decorative elements survive and are exhibited in various museums.

the WHEN
At the end of March of 1835 the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies (Naples) ordered to resume the excavation of the so called "strada della Fortuna" in Pompeii.

the WHERE
During the excavation in the so called "casa dei vasi d'argento (House of Silver Vases)" was discovered a treasure of 14 vases comprising two silver Kantharos embossed with centaurs and cherubs. These vases, now at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale of Naples, are the original silverworks that inspired the unknown modern silversmith.

By the comparison of the Pompeian kantharos with the corresponding recent reproductions we notice that the ancient pieces are slightly smaller (-12%) while their weight is about 50% less. We notice also that the modern pieces were closely inspired by the ancient ones, but that much differency characterize the scenes embossed on their surface.
And lastly, the outstanding quality of the Pompeian artifacts and the exceptional craftsmanship of their makers is clearly evident.

silver Kantharos - I century A.D. Centaur (male) with "krater" and cherub high 12.5 cm - diam. 12.2 cm. - weight 648 gr.	silver kantharos - modern copy detail with Centaur (male) with "krater" and cherub high 14 cm. - diam. 10.5 - weight 978

silver Kantharos - I century A.D. Centaur (female) with cherub high 12.5 cm - diam. 12.2 cm. - weight 648 gr.	silver kantharos - modern copy detail with Centaur (female) with cherub high 14 cm. - diam. 10.5 - weight 978

silver Kantharos - I century A.D. Centaur (male) and a cherub holding a flute and a lyre respectively high 12.5 cm - diam. 12.2 cm. - weight 631 gr.	silver kantharos - modern copy detail with Centaur (male) and cherub with flute and lyre high 14 cm. - diam. 10.5 - weight 910

silver Kantharos - I century A.D. Centaur (female) holding a rython and a phiale (ritual vases) and a cherub holding a cup high 12.5 cm - diam. 12.2 cm. - weight 631 gr.	silver kantharos - modern copy detail with Centaur (female) holding ritual vases and a cherub holding a cup high 14 cm. - diam. 10.5 - weight 910

ENDNOTES

note 1: before my retirement I managed the auditing service of a local bank in Venice ....."the wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature".....

note 2: A nobleman in the 18th and 19th century completed his education with a period of European travel: the so-called 'Grand Tour'. By undertaking the Tour, young men learned about the politics, culture, and art of neighbouring lands. The primary destination of the 'Grand Tour' was Italy, with its heritage of ancient Roman monuments. 18th and 19th century taste revered the art and culture of the ancients. The British, in particular, were lured to Italy by their admiration of antiquity and their desire to see firsthand such monuments of ancient civilization as the Coliseum in Rome, and such wonders of nature as the volcanic eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, near Naples, and its archaeological excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
These kantharos were manufactured when 'Grand Tour' habit was already declined and, possibly, they were addressed to the market of the wealthy American tourism of the beginning of the 20th century

note 3: Fred Sinfield quotes also the reproduction of an ancient drinking vessel (Skyphos) assayed in London by Barnard & Sons in 1884