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Lot Essay
For a detailed discussion on the 'Amen' group of Jacobite glasses see Geoffrey B. Seddon, op. cit.(1995), pp. 185-229 where he has observed that the quality of the engraving on the three earliest dated glasses, the Steuart '1743', the Haddington '1745' and the Dunvegan '1747' is only of fair quality on the bowls whilst the engraving of the inscriptions to the feet of both the Steuart and the Dunvegan appears far more competent. The same observations may also be applied to the present glass, and while the crown and cypher appear here to be quite heavily engraved the lettering seems to have been engraved with a lighter more hesitant touch, most particularly on the curved bowl where the calligrapher finds himself not only making mistakes with the letters but also misjudging the spaces available. On the foot the flow of the writing is apparent and uninhibited, although mediocre in areas such as when he writes 'God Blifs all Loyall Subjects' he writes across the end of the line above, indicating that if not perhaps entirely confident in his medium his Jacobite convictions are sincere. This uncertainty with the use of the diamond and the similarities in the execution of the decoration on the present glass with those aforementioned dated examples might suggest that this is perhaps one of the earliest 'Amen' glasses or even, as suggested by Dr. Seddon, possibly the precursor to all the others.
John Ogilvy of Inshewan was descended from a family closely associated with the Jacobite cause. Royalists during the Civil Wars, the Ogilvys took up the cause of Prince Charles and were engaged actively in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745; David, 5th Lord Ogilvy and son of the 4th Earl of Airlie being attainted and having to flee to France.
We are indebted to Dr. Geoffrey Seddon for his generous contribution to this catalogue entry.
Four other 'Amen' glasses have been sold in these Rooms in recent years: the Burn Murdoch, sale 4th June 1980, lot 153; Breadalbane I, sale 25th November 1986, lot 123; Breadalbane II, sale 16th October 1990, lot 148, and the Ker, sale 2nd November 1998, lot 1.
John Ogilvy of Inshewan was descended from a family closely associated with the Jacobite cause. Royalists during the Civil Wars, the Ogilvys took up the cause of Prince Charles and were engaged actively in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745; David, 5th Lord Ogilvy and son of the 4th Earl of Airlie being attainted and having to flee to France.
We are indebted to Dr. Geoffrey Seddon for his generous contribution to this catalogue entry.
Four other 'Amen' glasses have been sold in these Rooms in recent years: the Burn Murdoch, sale 4th June 1980, lot 153; Breadalbane I, sale 25th November 1986, lot 123; Breadalbane II, sale 16th October 1990, lot 148, and the Ker, sale 2nd November 1998, lot 1.