Mike b's Comments
David, if you looked at the source you'd find everything you're looking for...
September 2007. An assessment of the analysis was carried out by Oxford Materials Characterisation Services, Oxford University (3rd December 2007), which concludes that the method of manufacture and the composition of the gold are consistent with Archaemenid gold and gold smithing. It also states: "It would be reasonable to argue here that the presence of cadmium could be connected with the addition of silver and copper to the alloy and not the gold. If this is the case it would argue that the gold in the cup is refined and this might place it later rather than earlier in the Archaemenid period". Copies of both reports are available for inspection. Provenance: Acquired by William Sparks (W. Sparks & Sons Iron and Metal Merchants) of Taunton in the 1930's or early 1040's. Thence by descent to the vendor, his grandson, John Webber, of Wellington, Somerset.
September 2007. An assessment of the analysis was carried out by Oxford Materials Characterisation Services, Oxford University (3rd December 2007), which concludes that the method of manufacture and the composition of the gold are consistent with Archaemenid gold and gold smithing. It also states: "It would be reasonable to argue here that the presence of cadmium could be connected with the addition of silver and copper to the alloy and not the gold. If this is the case it would argue that the gold in the cup is refined and this might place it later rather than earlier in the Archaemenid period". Copies of both reports are available for inspection. Provenance: Acquired by William Sparks (W. Sparks & Sons Iron and Metal Merchants) of Taunton in the 1930's or early 1040's. Thence by descent to the vendor, his grandson, John Webber, of Wellington, Somerset.
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Yes it took two clicks to get there vs. one....
I'm no expert in antiquities but I would assume the provenance of most of them is lost through the ages.
This is why metal testing is done along with matching the symbols and the manufacturing method.
Seriously give it some thought; The item is over 2000 years old. If you were to have provenance it would
span 100's of generations.