.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
According to Mr. H.G. Schönfeld from Eutin-Fissau in his letter to the present owner, dated 16 October 1974, this silver guild beaker dates back from the early 18th Century, although inscribed 1623. Mr. Schönfeld also suggested that the beaker may possibly have been made or altered by the Court goldsmith Georg Heinrich von Acken, who was born in Kiel in 1671 and died in Eutin in 1726. The silvered brass finial is possibly added in the late 18th Century.
Following the death of William IV of England in 1837, Ernst Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1771-1851) succeeded under Salic Law to the trown of Hanover. Ernst Augustus, was the son of George III, brother of George IV and William IV and the 'wicked uncle' of Queen Victoria.
While being unpopular in England largely on account of his professed dislike of 'liberal notions', his departure from these shores being an opportunity for national rejoicing, his rule of Hanover was regarded by his subjects as a considerable improvement on that of his absentee predecessors. Ernst Augustus appears to have taken a large quantity of Royal Plate to augment the silver already in Hanover.He probably had the names of the brewers of Eutin removed and applied his crowned monogram.
Following his death in 1851, he was succeeded by his son George Frederick who was himself deposed by the forces of Prussia during the 'Seven Weeks' War of 1866. The Prussians sacked the Hanoverian Royal Palace but failed to find the Royal plate since the vault in which it was housed had been covered with lime, plaster and debris by workmen loyal to the Hanoverian cause.
In 1923 a significant proportion of the Cumberland plate was offered for sale by Crichton Brothers, London.
The cup and cover was bought in Berlin in 1925 by William Schwabacher, who gave it to his brother in law, the father in law of the present owner.
See illustration
Following the death of William IV of England in 1837, Ernst Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1771-1851) succeeded under Salic Law to the trown of Hanover. Ernst Augustus, was the son of George III, brother of George IV and William IV and the 'wicked uncle' of Queen Victoria.
While being unpopular in England largely on account of his professed dislike of 'liberal notions', his departure from these shores being an opportunity for national rejoicing, his rule of Hanover was regarded by his subjects as a considerable improvement on that of his absentee predecessors. Ernst Augustus appears to have taken a large quantity of Royal Plate to augment the silver already in Hanover.He probably had the names of the brewers of Eutin removed and applied his crowned monogram.
Following his death in 1851, he was succeeded by his son George Frederick who was himself deposed by the forces of Prussia during the 'Seven Weeks' War of 1866. The Prussians sacked the Hanoverian Royal Palace but failed to find the Royal plate since the vault in which it was housed had been covered with lime, plaster and debris by workmen loyal to the Hanoverian cause.
In 1923 a significant proportion of the Cumberland plate was offered for sale by Crichton Brothers, London.
The cup and cover was bought in Berlin in 1925 by William Schwabacher, who gave it to his brother in law, the father in law of the present owner.
See illustration