MARK OF THOMAS FARREN, LONDON, 1714

Details

A GEORGE I SILVER-GILT ROYAL CORONATION CUP AND COVER
MARK OF THOMAS FARREN, LONDON, 1714
Vase shaped, on circular foot and with two scroll handles, the body applied with alternating openwork husk and lambrequin cut-card straps with moulded mid-rib above, the domed cover with similar strapwork radiating from a compressed ball finial, the body engraved with the Royal Arms with the Garter motto and with Royal crown above, flanked by the Royal monogram GR, all within a matted circle, the cover engraved with Royal cypher GR script with Royal crown above, marked on body and on cover bezel
10 1/2 in. (26.2 cm.) high
41 oz. 18 dwt. (1,305 gr.)
The Royal arms and cypher are for King George I (r.1714-1727) of Great Britain and Ireland.

Provenance

Given as a Coronation Claim by King George I (1714-1727) to the Hereditary Cup Bearer to the King,
Hildebrand Alington, 5th Baron Alington of Killard (1641-1723).
With Asprey, London, February, 1992.
With Kenneth Davis (Works of Art) Ltd., London.
A Florida Couple; Christie's, New York, 26 October 2006, lot 166.

Exhibited

London, Park Lane Hotel, The International Silver and Jewellery Fair, 7-10 February 1992, Asprey.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Harry Williams-Bulkeley International Head of Silver Department

hwilliams-bulkeley@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2666

Lot Essay

A CORONATION CLAIM
This silver-gilt cup and cover is recorded in the royal Jewel House accounts among the 'Coronation Claimes' allocated to King George I as gifts to the office-holders at his Coronation in 1714. In October 1714, the order for this cup is described,

'Delivd to the Chiefe Cup bearer as his Claime at His Majt Coronation
One Small Gilt Cupp & Cover 42=05:0'.

The Delivery Books at the Jewel House also record the receipt of the finished cup, and this cup is described as follows,

'Chief Cupp bearer Ld. Allington
Recd one Small Cup & Cover gilt wt 42=05'.

The Barons Alington were hereditary cup bearers, an office that allowed them to present the first cup at the coronation banquet of the monarchs of England. This cup was given to Hildebrand, 5th and last Baron Alington of Killard (1641-1723). The title Baron Alington has been created three times in British history. The first creation came in 1642, when William Alington was created Baron Alington of Killard, in the County of Cork, in the peerage of Ireland. He married Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of John de Argentine, and thus acquired though her the manor of Wymondley, held in grand serjeanty, with the privilege of handing to the King his first drink at the coronation, the coronation (1641-1723) perquisite being the silver cup. The de Argentine family had held this honour since the 13th century. The service was first provided by the Alingtons at the coronation of King James II in 1685.

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