LOT Gorringes Auction Galleries  /  Fine Art, Antiques and Collectables - Session 3  / 

1708

A unique gold cup made from Queen Victoria's Coronation oblation, of trumpet form with naturalist...

Currency:GBP Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA
A unique gold cup made from Queen Victoria's Coronation oblation, of trumpet form with naturalist...
A unique gold cup made from Queen Victoria's Coronation oblation, of trumpet form with naturalistic stem and foot, embossed and chased with roses, thistles and shamrocks, one side engraved with the following inscription; 'THIS CUP was made from the Ingot of Gold offered at the ALTAR BY QUEEN VICTORIA on her Coronation in Westminster Abbey. Tuesday 28th June 1838', the other side engraved with the Arms of the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal of England, 12oz. troy 9 ins. Since the time of Edward II, an ingot or wedge of gold of one pound weight is part of the Oblation at the Coronation. This follows the instruction in the medieval Liber Regalis (coronation book) : "...fulfilling the commandment of Him who said 'Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord thy God'". At Queen Victoria's Coronation, the Book of Ceremonies records as part of The First Offering : "The Treasurer of the Household will then deliver an Ingot of Gold, of one pound weight, to the Lord Great Chamberlain, who, having presented the same to the Queen, Her Majesty will deliver it to the Archbishop, to be put into the Oblation-Basin". Traditionally the gold is claimed by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster but this claim is always refused. Instead the Dean and Chapter receive the monetary value of the ingot after the coronation and the gold is fashioned into an object for presentation to a notary. The Duke of Norfolk is the premier Duke. The Dukedom carries with it the hereditary office of Earl Marshal of England. The Earl Marshal is in charge of state ceremonial including the coronation. Following the coronations of George IV and William IV the Duke received gold cups fashioned by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, which survive at Arundel Castle, however there is no record at Arundel of this cup. The Lord Chamberlain's records in the Public Record Office regarding Queen Victoria's coronation reveal that Rundells supplied the gold oblation - a 22ct gold ingot weighing 12oz troy, which cost £50. Rundells did not supply the Earl Marshal with the usual gold cup - instead he received a gold baton decorated with black enamel at a cost of £70. There is not any public record of the gold cup. It would therefore appear that this was a private commission for the Duke. The cup is not hallmarked or stamped with any makers marks, however the work is stylistically that of Rundell, Bridge & Rundell and is likely to be that of John Bridge. PHONE FOR ESTIMATE
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