Antique Silver Coconut Cup


Date: Circa 1750

Country: England

Stock: 9923

Description

A very charming piece of antique silver. The coconut cup is mounted with an engraved and scalloped silver rim and a low spreading silver foot. The very nice period features include the heart shaped supports at the base of the twin side handles and the little flower shaped nut attaching the silver foot to the coconut.

Height 9.2cm (rim), 9.8cm top of (handle).Diameter 8.3cm.

Makers mark only “MF” double struck.

Probably English circa 1750.

Marks. Stamped underneath the body twice with maker’s mark “MF”. The foot is hand engraved with initials in old fashioned script, the style is English.

Literature: Drinking vessels formed from the coconut were prized in early times for their healing powers. The coconut cup is a variety of standing cup, made and used in Europe in the 15th-17th Century, with a revival in Georgian England. Usually they have a pedestal foot or 3 ornamental feet and are mounted in silver or Old Sheffield plate. 17th century examples normally had the rim mount joined to the foot mount by three equally spaced vertical straps. These cups are rarely found with a full set of hallmarks.

Biography

Condition

In very good condition. Not watertight. One minor wear mark just below the rim.

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