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Wassail Set

1640-1680 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type

This is the bowl from a set made for serving wassail or spiced ale. Other wassail bowls and cups survive, but only this set has a table and candlestands to match. The bowl and cups are in a style made over a long period, but could date from the 1640s.



Historical Associations

The set was owned by one family for generations before it was bought by the V&A in 1976. Family tradition claims that Charles I gave it to Sir Charles Cokayne, 1st Viscount Cullen, after the Civil War battle at Naseby in 1645. Although the battle did take place near Cokayne's house, Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire, the style of the furniture suggests that this story could only apply to the bowl and cups. The table and stands must have been added later, in the 1670s, when spirally turned supports were fashionable.



Materials & Making

The set is made of lignum vitae, a dense wood imported from the West Indies. It was often used for wassail bowls as its high oil content makes it resistant to liquids. It also takes incised decoration well. Both the wood and the ivory, which provides a strong contrast, are decorated with 'rose engine turning', in which delicate circular patterns are incised into the material while it is spun on a lathe.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 12 parts.

  • Table
  • Bowl
  • Lid
  • Lids
  • Dipper
  • Dipper
  • Dipper
  • Dipper
  • Candlestand
  • Candlestand
  • Candlestick
  • Candlestick
Materials and techniques
Lignum vitae, with ivory decoration
Brief description
Wassail set, lignum vitae with ivory decoration, England, ca. 1640-80, Rushton House, Northants
Physical description
Wassail table, lignum vitae with ivory decoration, enriched with “rose engine turning”.
Wassail bowl with lids, lignum vitae, with ivory decoration.
Wassail dippers, lignum vitae, with silver rim.
Wassail candlestands, lignum vitae with ivory decoration.
Wassail candlestick, lignum vitae with ivory decoration.
Dimensions
  • Wassail bowl height: 50cm
  • Wassail table height: 76cm
  • Wassail table width: 89cm
  • Wassail table width: 89cm
  • Wassail table depth: 58.4cm
  • Wassail dipper diameter: 7.7cm
  • Candlestand height: 93cm
  • Wassail candlestick height: 24cm
Dimensions checked: Publication; 08/04/1999 by DW
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
Wassail or spiced ale was served at Christmas and on feast days. This elaborate set for serving wassail shows the fine spiral-turning that was a distinctive element of Restoration style. The strongly contrasted luxury materials from which it is made, lignum vitae and ivory, would have been imported.
Object history
This unique ceremonial drinking ensemble is said to have been presented to Sir Charles Cokayne, first Viscount Cullen, by Charles I after the battle of Naseby in 1645. (Dating casts doubt on this tradition). Close inspection of the engine-turned rose ornament shows that two separate craftsmen were involved. The candlestands and table were probably added to make up a set with the wassail bowl and candlesticks in about 1670-80

"Royal Wassail ensemble" table & vessels purchased from Spink & Son Ltd
Notes from R.P. 76/666

8/3/76 Memo P Thornton to the Director recommends purchase. "It is a very attractive work of exquisite craftsmanship, it has fascinating associations with several fields of English history". Well documented provenance, publications list & detals of some restorations detailed in Thornton memo (copy on RP)

14/4/76 Lord Cullen to Thornton in response to a previous query that there are no records available in the Family collection. "Had there been I am quite sure that my grandfather G E Cokayne (the author of the Complete Peerage) would have discovered them - I suppose it is possible that there may be some record of the gift to my ancestor by Charles I in the royal archives".

Per 29/4/77 Thornton memo re. tax rebates Spinks advertised the set and also showed it at the Antique Dealers Fair after it was bought by the V & A
Summary
Object Type

This is the bowl from a set made for serving wassail or spiced ale. Other wassail bowls and cups survive, but only this set has a table and candlestands to match. The bowl and cups are in a style made over a long period, but could date from the 1640s.



Historical Associations

The set was owned by one family for generations before it was bought by the V&A in 1976. Family tradition claims that Charles I gave it to Sir Charles Cokayne, 1st Viscount Cullen, after the Civil War battle at Naseby in 1645. Although the battle did take place near Cokayne's house, Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire, the style of the furniture suggests that this story could only apply to the bowl and cups. The table and stands must have been added later, in the 1670s, when spirally turned supports were fashionable.



Materials & Making

The set is made of lignum vitae, a dense wood imported from the West Indies. It was often used for wassail bowls as its high oil content makes it resistant to liquids. It also takes incised decoration well. Both the wood and the ivory, which provides a strong contrast, are decorated with 'rose engine turning', in which delicate circular patterns are incised into the material while it is spun on a lathe.
Bibliographic references
  • Wilk, Christopher, ed. . Western Furniture 1350 to the Present Day. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. 230p., ill. ISBN 085667463X.
  • Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: V&A Publications, 1999.
  • R.W.Symonds, 'Tables, Stands and Glasses'. 'Apollo, April 1933, vol 17, p. 137.
  • Bowett, Adam, Wood in British Furniture-Making 1400-1900. An Illustrated Historical Dictionary (Wetherby: Oblong Creative Ltd. in association with the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, 2012. ISBN 978-0-9556576 7 2, p. 112, figs. L6-L8.
Collection
Accession number
W.8 to k-1976

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Record createdNovember 21, 2002
Record URL
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