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Lot Essay
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
H.Clifford-Smith F.S.A.,Heraldic Wooden Cups of the Jacobean Period, the Property of Sir Gerald Ryan Bt, Connoisseur, LXVIII, 1924, pp.3-10. Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries, 2nd. series, 7.(1876-78)p.77
Owen Evan-Thomas, Domestic Utensils of Wood, Stobart Davies, Hertford 1973. See comparable example illustrated plates 13-16.
Edward H. Pinto, Treen and Other Wooden Bygones, Bell and Hyman, London 1969. Chapter III, see plate 29.R
Christie's London, Great rooms, 24th October 1991, lot 1.
W.J. Shepherd Collection, Sothebys London, November 30th 1983, lot 512. See also comparable example sold in Christie's Great rooms in London, 24th October 1991, lot 1.
Despite considerable interest in these cups since the late 19th Century little evidence for their use has come forward, the majority are of the slightly earlier reign of James I, and often bear his arms, flanked by the crests of two or more English families. The animals depicted on the present cup are possibly representative family crests. Pinto, op.cit.,p.37 suggests that the cups identify the members of a club along the lines of the late 17th Century Honourable Society of Little Bedlam whose members were identified by their crests. Against this theory is the fact that none of the James I or later cups have been connected to or remain at houses connected with the coats-of-arms.
The present lot lacks the religious inscription that is a feature of most others. These inscriptions provide little specific information. No print or manuscript source is obvious. No detailed study of the texts from all the cups has been made, and without this it would be pure luck to find a source other than biblical.
H.Clifford-Smith F.S.A.,Heraldic Wooden Cups of the Jacobean Period, the Property of Sir Gerald Ryan Bt, Connoisseur, LXVIII, 1924, pp.3-10. Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries, 2nd. series, 7.(1876-78)p.77
Owen Evan-Thomas, Domestic Utensils of Wood, Stobart Davies, Hertford 1973. See comparable example illustrated plates 13-16.
Edward H. Pinto, Treen and Other Wooden Bygones, Bell and Hyman, London 1969. Chapter III, see plate 29.R
Christie's London, Great rooms, 24th October 1991, lot 1.
W.J. Shepherd Collection, Sothebys London, November 30th 1983, lot 512. See also comparable example sold in Christie's Great rooms in London, 24th October 1991, lot 1.
Despite considerable interest in these cups since the late 19th Century little evidence for their use has come forward, the majority are of the slightly earlier reign of James I, and often bear his arms, flanked by the crests of two or more English families. The animals depicted on the present cup are possibly representative family crests. Pinto, op.cit.,p.37 suggests that the cups identify the members of a club along the lines of the late 17th Century Honourable Society of Little Bedlam whose members were identified by their crests. Against this theory is the fact that none of the James I or later cups have been connected to or remain at houses connected with the coats-of-arms.
The present lot lacks the religious inscription that is a feature of most others. These inscriptions provide little specific information. No print or manuscript source is obvious. No detailed study of the texts from all the cups has been made, and without this it would be pure luck to find a source other than biblical.