Lot Essay
This communion cup is a rare survival from the brief reign of Edward VI (1547-53). The movement to purify liturgical vessels of any ‘superstitious’ iconography following the Reformation of 1534, is reflected in the communion cup’s simplified design, devoid of any religious symbolism. Timothy Schroder notes that only about eighteen cups from this period are known, most of which were made for churches in London, where the theology of the newly established Church of England was most widely accepted (Schroder, 2012, p. 68). A 1551 communion cup at the Beddington Church, Surrey, very similar to the Zilkha cup, is also marked for Robert Danby.
Few records exist for goldsmith Robert Danby (or Daube). He appears to have completed his apprenticeship in 1546 and died around 1578. His earliest known work is a 1549 communion cup at the City church of St. Peter’s, Cornhill. His mark also appears on a tankard and the William Bisby Cup in the possession of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers, London. A 1562 standing salt in the collection of the Corpus Christi College, Cambridge was given by Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury (1504-1575) (ibid., p. 68).
The Zilkha communion cup was sold at Christie’s, London, 4 February, 1944, lot 88, from the collection of the Viscountess Wakefield, widow of Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield (1859-1941). Wakefield was an inventor and businessman who in the 1890s patented the Wakefield Lubricator to be used in steam engines. In 1899 he founded the Wakefield Oil Company, later renamed Castrol. Wakefield is remembered for his civic and philanthropic contributions. He was knighted in 1908 for his services to the City of London, and served as Lord Mayor of London from 1915-1916. In 1931, Wakefield purchased the famous Howard Grace Cup from the Howard family and gifted it to the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. The Grace Cup features an earlier ivory bowl, and is believed to have belonged the Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who in 1170 was bludgeoned to death in the Canterbury Cathedral by supporters of King Henry II. The ivory cup was later presented to Catherine of Aragon (1485-1586) by Sir Edward Howard (1476-1513), son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. In 1525 the cup was fitted with silver-gilt mounts incorporating the pomegranate badge of Catherine of Aragon and the initials TB for Thomas Becket.
Few records exist for goldsmith Robert Danby (or Daube). He appears to have completed his apprenticeship in 1546 and died around 1578. His earliest known work is a 1549 communion cup at the City church of St. Peter’s, Cornhill. His mark also appears on a tankard and the William Bisby Cup in the possession of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers, London. A 1562 standing salt in the collection of the Corpus Christi College, Cambridge was given by Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury (1504-1575) (ibid., p. 68).
The Zilkha communion cup was sold at Christie’s, London, 4 February, 1944, lot 88, from the collection of the Viscountess Wakefield, widow of Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield (1859-1941). Wakefield was an inventor and businessman who in the 1890s patented the Wakefield Lubricator to be used in steam engines. In 1899 he founded the Wakefield Oil Company, later renamed Castrol. Wakefield is remembered for his civic and philanthropic contributions. He was knighted in 1908 for his services to the City of London, and served as Lord Mayor of London from 1915-1916. In 1931, Wakefield purchased the famous Howard Grace Cup from the Howard family and gifted it to the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. The Grace Cup features an earlier ivory bowl, and is believed to have belonged the Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who in 1170 was bludgeoned to death in the Canterbury Cathedral by supporters of King Henry II. The ivory cup was later presented to Catherine of Aragon (1485-1586) by Sir Edward Howard (1476-1513), son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. In 1525 the cup was fitted with silver-gilt mounts incorporating the pomegranate badge of Catherine of Aragon and the initials TB for Thomas Becket.