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Lot Essay
THE STEEPLE CUP
This distinctly English form was the subject of an exhaustive study by the academic Norman Penzer (1892-1960) in his series of five articles in the Apollo published between 1959 and 1964. Surviving true steeple cups date from 1599 to 1646, and were occasionally supplied in suites of three cups. Penzer noted that although many were subsequently given to churches, their use was secular, intended for display on the buffet. The steeple or obelisk motif was a popular architectural ornament throughout Europe in the Mannerist period, but was only adopted for the covers of standing cups in England. J.F. Hayward notes that the steeple 'helped to give importance by increasing the height without adding unduly to the weight and hence the cost of the cup' (Virtuoso Goldsmiths, London, 1976, p. 306).
There is a proliferation of steeple/obelisk motifs throughout England in the middle years of the 16th century on buildings, in design sources, in gardens and on plate. Penzer records their use at Burghley House, Lincolnshire, 1557 to 1564, at Montacute House, Somerset, 1588 to 1601, and at Knole in 1605, amongst many other instances. The Gates of Honor at Caius College Cambridge, sported four slender obelisk on each corner of the upper structure and the triumphal arch raised to celebrate the progress of King James I in March 1603 was similarly adorned. There are numerous other examples given. The engraver William Rogers published his image 'Eliza Triumphans', celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s victory over the Armada in 1588, which depicts the monarch flanked by obelisks topped by the figures of Peace and Plenty. This imagery draws on the earlier Flemish publication Emblemata XIV, printed in Antwerp by Hadrian Junius in 1562.
Inventories record cups or ‘bolles’ with a steeple or pinnacle which predate the earliest surviving examples. The inventory of Royal plate of 1575 lists cups (bolles) with ‘pinnacles’, but the melting pot - ‘that voracious dragon into whose insatiable maw so much plate has been thrown’ to quote Penzer’s dramatic imagery, has consigned them to history. Penzer cites, amongst others ‘No. 483 Item oon bolle with a couer guilt and chasid with six Dolphenes in the toppe of the cover like a pinacle’, ‘No. 518 Item thre bolles with a parcel couer parcel guilt having a pinnacle upon the couer ther feet graven and guilt’ and ‘No 152 One bolle with a couer of Sylver guilt – smale chased with fishes the couer with a pinnacle in the top’, the last given to the Queen by Lord Burghley in 1584⁄5.
JAMES GRAY AND ELIZABETH SCOTT, DUCHESS OF BUCCLEUCH
The engraved arms on the present lot are possibly those of James Gray, second son of Patrick, 6th Lord Gray (d. 1612). James served as Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King James VI, and in 1691 stole a horse belonging to the King. Two years later, he was involved in further antics, having twice abducted Catherine, daughter and heiress of John Carnegie. In the first instance, he removed her from the Edinburgh home of textile merchant Robert Joussie (d. 1626), but by the order of the council, James returned her to her father’s house. Catherine’s second abduction was a more calculated heist with numerous accomplices. James absconded her from the house she and her father had been residing in and she 'was hailed doun a close to the North Loche, and convoyed over in a boat, where there about ten or twelve men on the other side to receave her. They sett her upon a man’s sadle, and convoyed her away, her haire hanging about her face. The Lord Hume keeped the High Stree with armed en till the fact was accomplished' (Calderwood’s History, Vol. V, p. 252).
The cup is further engraved for Elizabeth Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch (1743-1827). Elizabeth was eldest daughter of George Brudenell, 1st Duke of Montagu, 4th Earl of Cardigan (1712-1790) and his wife Mary (1711-1775). Elizabeth was granddaughter of John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu (1690-1749) and great granddaughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722). In 1767 she married Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch (1746-1812) at Montagu House, Whitehall. As Elizabeth’s brother, John Montagu, Marquess of Monthermer, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton (1735-1770), died without heirs, the barony of Montagu passed to her children.
This distinctly English form was the subject of an exhaustive study by the academic Norman Penzer (1892-1960) in his series of five articles in the Apollo published between 1959 and 1964. Surviving true steeple cups date from 1599 to 1646, and were occasionally supplied in suites of three cups. Penzer noted that although many were subsequently given to churches, their use was secular, intended for display on the buffet. The steeple or obelisk motif was a popular architectural ornament throughout Europe in the Mannerist period, but was only adopted for the covers of standing cups in England. J.F. Hayward notes that the steeple 'helped to give importance by increasing the height without adding unduly to the weight and hence the cost of the cup' (Virtuoso Goldsmiths, London, 1976, p. 306).
There is a proliferation of steeple/obelisk motifs throughout England in the middle years of the 16th century on buildings, in design sources, in gardens and on plate. Penzer records their use at Burghley House, Lincolnshire, 1557 to 1564, at Montacute House, Somerset, 1588 to 1601, and at Knole in 1605, amongst many other instances. The Gates of Honor at Caius College Cambridge, sported four slender obelisk on each corner of the upper structure and the triumphal arch raised to celebrate the progress of King James I in March 1603 was similarly adorned. There are numerous other examples given. The engraver William Rogers published his image 'Eliza Triumphans', celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s victory over the Armada in 1588, which depicts the monarch flanked by obelisks topped by the figures of Peace and Plenty. This imagery draws on the earlier Flemish publication Emblemata XIV, printed in Antwerp by Hadrian Junius in 1562.
Inventories record cups or ‘bolles’ with a steeple or pinnacle which predate the earliest surviving examples. The inventory of Royal plate of 1575 lists cups (bolles) with ‘pinnacles’, but the melting pot - ‘that voracious dragon into whose insatiable maw so much plate has been thrown’ to quote Penzer’s dramatic imagery, has consigned them to history. Penzer cites, amongst others ‘No. 483 Item oon bolle with a couer guilt and chasid with six Dolphenes in the toppe of the cover like a pinacle’, ‘No. 518 Item thre bolles with a parcel couer parcel guilt having a pinnacle upon the couer ther feet graven and guilt’ and ‘No 152 One bolle with a couer of Sylver guilt – smale chased with fishes the couer with a pinnacle in the top’, the last given to the Queen by Lord Burghley in 1584⁄5.
JAMES GRAY AND ELIZABETH SCOTT, DUCHESS OF BUCCLEUCH
The engraved arms on the present lot are possibly those of James Gray, second son of Patrick, 6th Lord Gray (d. 1612). James served as Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King James VI, and in 1691 stole a horse belonging to the King. Two years later, he was involved in further antics, having twice abducted Catherine, daughter and heiress of John Carnegie. In the first instance, he removed her from the Edinburgh home of textile merchant Robert Joussie (d. 1626), but by the order of the council, James returned her to her father’s house. Catherine’s second abduction was a more calculated heist with numerous accomplices. James absconded her from the house she and her father had been residing in and she 'was hailed doun a close to the North Loche, and convoyed over in a boat, where there about ten or twelve men on the other side to receave her. They sett her upon a man’s sadle, and convoyed her away, her haire hanging about her face. The Lord Hume keeped the High Stree with armed en till the fact was accomplished' (Calderwood’s History, Vol. V, p. 252).
The cup is further engraved for Elizabeth Scott, Duchess of Buccleuch (1743-1827). Elizabeth was eldest daughter of George Brudenell, 1st Duke of Montagu, 4th Earl of Cardigan (1712-1790) and his wife Mary (1711-1775). Elizabeth was granddaughter of John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu (1690-1749) and great granddaughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722). In 1767 she married Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch (1746-1812) at Montagu House, Whitehall. As Elizabeth’s brother, John Montagu, Marquess of Monthermer, 1st Baron Montagu of Boughton (1735-1770), died without heirs, the barony of Montagu passed to her children.