RICHARD BAYLEY, LONDON, CIRCA 1730; MADE FROM TWO QUEEN ANNE GOLD CUPS FOR THE BRAMHAM MOOR RACES OF 1705 AND 1708

Details

A RARE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT GEORGE II GOLD TROPHY CUP AND COVER
Richard Bayley, London, circa 1730; made from two Queen Anne Gold Cups for the Bramham Moor Races of 1705 and 1708
Of inverted bell-shape, on spreading foot and with molded mid-rib, engraved on one side with a horse and jockey at full gallop above inscription "Ruffler and Woodcock on Bramham Moor 1705. and 1708." and the other side with the monogram AR and the Royal Arms of Queen Anne, with leaf-capped double scroll handles, the domed cover engraved with the same horse and jockey at full gallop and the same inscription and dates as on the body, marked twice on cover with maker's mark of Richard Bayley; the base with transposed marks of Lewis Mettayer, London, 1708
9 1/8in. (23.3cm.) high ; 50oz. (1555gr.)

Provenance

Hugh Bethell, Rise and Watton Abbey, Yorkshire, thence by descent to Captain Adrian Bethell
Christie's, London, 24 April 1929, lot 56
Sotheby's, New York, April 26, 1985, lot 125

Literature

A.G. Grimwade, Connoisseur, August 1951, "A New List of Old English Gold Plate," Part II
The Glory of the Goldsmith: Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection, 1989, no. 54, p. 80-81

Exhibited

Loan Exhibition, 25 Park Lane, 1929, no. 239, lent by Captain Bethell
"The Glory of the Goldsmith: Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection," Christie's, London, 1989, no. 54

Lot Essay

The Bramham Moor Races were established some time prior to 1702 and gained prominence during the reign of Queen Anne, who was an ardent supporter of the sport. The London Gazette recorded on August 6, 1702 that "Queen Anne took great interest in North country racing. Soon after she came to the throne she presented a gold cup value £100, to be run for 'upon Bramham Moor course in Yorkshire by six-year old horses. Gentlemen to ride, 12 st. weight, three heats, the horse to be entered upon the place sevenight before the run.'" Records of meetings at Bramham Moor cease following the death of Queen Anne in 1714, yet horses were trained there until the late 18th century. (see J. Fairfax-Blakeborough, Northern Turf History, 1949, pp. 51-52.)

The present cup reflects the tradition of reworking Royal gifts in both silver and gold into more impressive objects. The weight of the current cup reflects the combination of the recorded weights of the Gold Cups won by Hugh Bethell's Ruffler in 1705 and Woodcock in 1708. The 1705 entry in the Lord Chamberlain's Day Book reads "July 30. Delivered unto Lady ffletchill [sic] one gold cup 23ozs. 17dwts. 12grs. And recd by me S. Beake." The 1708 entry reads "July 9. Delivered unto Jno Charlton Esq. one gold Cupp and cover 23ozs. 14dwts." Adding a few more ounces of gold, Hugh Bethell commissioned Bayley to combine the cups into a single larger example, while retaining the hallmarks from the 1708 Gold Cup and engraving the arms and monogram of Queen Anne to document both Cups' Royal provenance.

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