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Lot Essay
A wager cup, also known as a marriage cup or loving cup, was a drinking vessel traditionally used at weddings or festive gatherings. It was popular in 17th and 18th century Continental Europe. The dual-cup design allowed for two people to drink at the same time in a single draught - the groom from the larger cup and the bride from the smaller - with the intention of not spilling a drop, a real test of coordination and trust, hence the name 'wager'.
A WEDDING CUP FOR THE ASSEBURG AND WOLFF METTERNICHT
The arms engraved on the rim of the larger cup are those of the Asseburg impaling Wolff Metternich.
The two families were united in marriage on two occasions. In 1699, Ernst Konstantin von der Asseburg (1666-1726), Freiherr von der Asseburg-Hinnenburg married Lucie Wolff Metternich zur Gracht (1680-1747). In 1727 Franz Wilhelm Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht (1697–1752), son of Hieronymus Leopold, married Sophia Maria von der Asseburg.
The von der Asseburg are a noble German family, who historically resided primarily in the region of Westphalia, and mainly at Schloss Hinnenburg. Located near Brakel in the Höxter district of North Rhine-Westphalia and some forty kilometres from Paderborn, the castle, which dates back to the 13th century, was inherited by the family in the late 13th century and underwent several expansions and renovations.
The Wolff Metternich zur Gracht family is a distinguished German noble lineage with deep roots in the Rhineland and Westphalia regions. Their history spans several centuries, marked by significant contributions to ecclesiastical, diplomatic, and aristocratic spheres within the Holy Roman Empire. Thus at least two members of the family served as Prince-Bishop of Paderborn: Hermann Werner von Wolff Metternich zur Gracht (1625–1704), known for his patronage of architecture and the arts and, Franz Arnold von Wolff Metternich zur Gracht (1658-1718) also Prince-Bishop of Münster. In this function, both had the right of coinage (Regalrecht) and consequently issued various coins including pfennigs and thalers, some which feature on this cup.
COINS AS DECORATION
Inset coins were a common motif of decoration on silver made in cities with a mint, such as Paderborn, generally set on beakers and tankards; however, a Münzwettbecher, in other words a coin wager cup, is a rare object if not unique. Also of note are the coins set into the cups, which comprise thirty thalers dated from 1525 to 1712 and, in the centre of the swivelling upper cup, a Friedrich I of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg (1680-1691) 1 ½ thaler commemorating his admission into the Pegnitz-Schäfer order. This rare thaler was engraved by Johann Georg Sorberger (1650–1703) and depicts Frederick I in a Roman military outfit affixing his cypher to a tree in a woodland surrounded by various animals in the manner of Paul Flindt. The thaler is inscribed on the reverse IN / MEMORIAM / SEMPITER / NAM with initials HM for the master of the mint, whilst the scene is signed IGS. Sorberger was a very talented medallist and master of the mint who worked in Gotha and Meiningen. This thaler counts as one of his masterpieces.
THE WOLFF METTERNICHT : HISTORICAL COLLECTOR OF COINS AND MEDALS
It should be noted that the Wolff Metternich family collected coins and medals as early as the beginning of the 18th century, continuing for generations. Certainly, many coins would have come from the family's Prince-Bishop of Paderborn and Münster. The collection was housed at Schloss Gracht until 1957 where it is believed to have remained unresearched and unknown to numismatists until it was sold at Sotheby’s, London in July 2022.
It is very likely that the coins adorning this wager cup were a gift from the Wolff Metternicht family to the couple to be set into this magnificent wager cup in celebration of a wedding anniversary.
A WEDDING CUP FOR THE ASSEBURG AND WOLFF METTERNICHT
The arms engraved on the rim of the larger cup are those of the Asseburg impaling Wolff Metternich.
The two families were united in marriage on two occasions. In 1699, Ernst Konstantin von der Asseburg (1666-1726), Freiherr von der Asseburg-Hinnenburg married Lucie Wolff Metternich zur Gracht (1680-1747). In 1727 Franz Wilhelm Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht (1697–1752), son of Hieronymus Leopold, married Sophia Maria von der Asseburg.
The von der Asseburg are a noble German family, who historically resided primarily in the region of Westphalia, and mainly at Schloss Hinnenburg. Located near Brakel in the Höxter district of North Rhine-Westphalia and some forty kilometres from Paderborn, the castle, which dates back to the 13th century, was inherited by the family in the late 13th century and underwent several expansions and renovations.
The Wolff Metternich zur Gracht family is a distinguished German noble lineage with deep roots in the Rhineland and Westphalia regions. Their history spans several centuries, marked by significant contributions to ecclesiastical, diplomatic, and aristocratic spheres within the Holy Roman Empire. Thus at least two members of the family served as Prince-Bishop of Paderborn: Hermann Werner von Wolff Metternich zur Gracht (1625–1704), known for his patronage of architecture and the arts and, Franz Arnold von Wolff Metternich zur Gracht (1658-1718) also Prince-Bishop of Münster. In this function, both had the right of coinage (Regalrecht) and consequently issued various coins including pfennigs and thalers, some which feature on this cup.
COINS AS DECORATION
Inset coins were a common motif of decoration on silver made in cities with a mint, such as Paderborn, generally set on beakers and tankards; however, a Münzwettbecher, in other words a coin wager cup, is a rare object if not unique. Also of note are the coins set into the cups, which comprise thirty thalers dated from 1525 to 1712 and, in the centre of the swivelling upper cup, a Friedrich I of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg (1680-1691) 1 ½ thaler commemorating his admission into the Pegnitz-Schäfer order. This rare thaler was engraved by Johann Georg Sorberger (1650–1703) and depicts Frederick I in a Roman military outfit affixing his cypher to a tree in a woodland surrounded by various animals in the manner of Paul Flindt. The thaler is inscribed on the reverse IN / MEMORIAM / SEMPITER / NAM with initials HM for the master of the mint, whilst the scene is signed IGS. Sorberger was a very talented medallist and master of the mint who worked in Gotha and Meiningen. This thaler counts as one of his masterpieces.
THE WOLFF METTERNICHT : HISTORICAL COLLECTOR OF COINS AND MEDALS
It should be noted that the Wolff Metternich family collected coins and medals as early as the beginning of the 18th century, continuing for generations. Certainly, many coins would have come from the family's Prince-Bishop of Paderborn and Münster. The collection was housed at Schloss Gracht until 1957 where it is believed to have remained unresearched and unknown to numismatists until it was sold at Sotheby’s, London in July 2022.
It is very likely that the coins adorning this wager cup were a gift from the Wolff Metternicht family to the couple to be set into this magnificent wager cup in celebration of a wedding anniversary.