Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 67, The Whiteley Galleries

Presentation Cup and Cover

1853-1854 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

An inscription dated 12 July 1852 recalls that the cup was presented to the Rev. Dr. Nathan Marcus Adler Chief Rabbi of the British Jews by his brethren in Australia.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Presentation Cup and Cover
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Gold, cast, embossed, chased and engraved
Brief description
Presentation Cup and Cover, gold, London hallmarks for 1853-54, made by C.F. Hancock.
Physical description
The design of the cup comprises a circular foot with a chased border and incorporates a pairs of freestanding kangaroos and an emu. The stem which supports the cup is decorated with chased banana fronds. Festoons of flowers hang from the lower edge of the body while the cup is decorated with embossed and engraved decoration, the lid is chased with wreaths of laurel. The body of the cup is divided into four compartments two containing panels, one depicting ' the Lion and the Lamb' and the other 'a Chalice and the Open Bible'. The other two contain the following inscription, one panel in Hebrew, the other in English 'This cup is made from gold, the produce of the mines of Victoria, is presented to the Rev. J. Nathan Marcus Adler, Chief Rabbi of the British Jews, as a token of the high esteem in which he is held by his brethren in this colony, and to mark their sense of his indefatigable exertions in the holy cause of Religion and Education, Melbourne, Victoria July 12th 1852 (AM 5612).
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.5cm
  • Weight: 527.1g
  • Diameter: 9cm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • THIS CUP / MADE FROM GOLD THE / PRODUCE OF THE MINES / OF VICTORIA, IS PRESENTED / TO THE REVD / DR. NATHAN MARCUS ADLER / CHIEF RABBI OF THE BRI / TISH JEWS, AS A TOKEN OF / THE HIGH ESTEEM IN / WHICH HE IS HELD BY / HIS BRETHERN IN THIS / COLONY AND TO MARK / THEIR SENSE OF HIS IN-/ DEFATICABLE EXERTIONS / IN THE HOLY CAUSE OF / RELIGION AND EDUCATION / MELBOURNE, VICTORIA / JULY. 12. 1852 AM 5612 (A similar dedication in Hebrew on the opposite side of the body.)
  • C.F. HANCOCK FECIT 39 BRUTON STREET LONDON (Inscribed around the outside rim of the foot.)
  • London hallmarks for 18 carat gold, 1853-1854.
Object history
The cup was presented on behalf of the subscribers to the Chief Rabbi on Monday, 1 August 1853 at his residence in Crosby Square, London.
Subjects depicted
Summary
An inscription dated 12 July 1852 recalls that the cup was presented to the Rev. Dr. Nathan Marcus Adler Chief Rabbi of the British Jews by his brethren in Australia.
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:MET ANON.5:1,2-2004

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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