A Continental silver-gilt drinking cup in the form of a bull, makers mark MPB, possibly Breslau, 19th century

Lot Closed

January 14, 02:03 PM GMT

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property of a descendant of William Beckford & The Dukes of Hamilton

A Continental silver-gilt drinking cup in the form of a bull, makers mark MPB, possibly Breslau, 19th century

cast and chased, with a detachable head, the triform base chased with animals marked on head, body and foot, the head and foot also with post 1859 Dutch control marks for unguaranteed objects of national origin, sometimes mistakenly used on old and foreign objects

9½in.; 24.2cm. high

1142gr, 36oz 14dwt

In the Hamilton collection at Brodick Castle by 1888.
Possibly acquired by William, 11th Duke of Hamilton (1811-1863);
His granddaughter, Lady Mary Louise (1884-1957), only child and principal heir of William Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton, who married in 1906 James Graham (1878-1954), Marquess of Graham who in 1925 succeeded his father as 6th Duke of Montrose;
Thence by descent.

This model is based on an example by Jermias Ritter, Nuremberg, 1632/41, in the Hermitage St. Petersburg, see: Karin Tebbe et al. Nürnberger Goldschmiedekunst 1541-1868, Nuremberg, 2007, ill. 204.

Photographed in the Dining Room at Brodick Castle, Arran, August 1888.