Silver, London hallmarks for 1763-4, mark of Abraham Portal

The flagon has a raised stepped foot which tapers up to an applied moulding at the junction with the raised straight sided body. The rim has an applied profile moulding. The raised lid is domed in two stages. The cast thumbpiece is a shell supported by C-scrolls. The cast S-shaped handle has an applied two-part label below the hinge; it tapers down towards a substantial reverse-scroll terminal. At the upper junction with the body is a three-stage socket. The flagon body is engraved with a rococo cartouche incorporating scrolls, flower sprays and two putti, holding a communion cup and paten respectively.

Presented to the Chapel of the Asylum for Female Orphans by Sir Thomas Hankey, banker and philanthropist.

Historical significance: The Asylum for Female Orphans was established by Sir John Fielding in 1758 at Vauxhall. Fielding played a significant part in drafting the principles and regulations. The girls were taught to read the Bible and later apprenticed or engaged as domestic servants. The chapel plate was commissioned by a banker, Sir Thomas Hankey.

An Account of the Institution, and Proceedings of the Guardians, of the Asylum or House of Refuge, Situated on the Surry side of Westminster Bridge, for the reception of orphan girls residing within the bills of mortality, whose settlements cannot be found, 1761
Printed by order of the Guardians, London. A copy is in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University WC 8892

An Abstract from the Account of the Asylum, or House of Refugre, situate in the Parish of Lambeth, in the County of Surry, 1809
Printed by the Philanthropic Society, London. A copy is in the Wellcome Library, London
The book provides a detailed account of the diet, employment and education of the girls. At fifteen, the children were apprenticed 'as domestic servants in reputable families residing in England; the greatest care being taken by the guardians themselves to enquire into the characters of masters and mistresses, before the children are entrusted to them'

The Asylum for Female Orphans aimed to 'preserve friendless and deserted girls from those dangers and misfortunes, to which their distressed situation exposes them'
The guardians included Queen Charlotte, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Macclesfield.

Gifts to Charity
Public benefactions were seen as evidence of the donor’s faith. In 18th-century London, leading citizens founded institutions to assist the poor, sick and isolated. Prevention was better than a cure, and in 1758 the Asylum for Female Orphans was founded to prevent prostitution. In the same year the Magdalen Hospital was established to reform repentant prostitutes.

Hospital governors recognised the importance of religion in educating and nurturing those for whom they cared. Regular communion was considered part of the healing process. In poorhouses parish officers saw that communion was celebrated and prayer books distributed.

This flagon is part of a communion set presented by the banker and philanthropist Sir Thomas Hankey to the Asylum for Female Orphans at Vauxhall, London.

The asylum had been established in 1758 by Sir John Fielding with the aim of preventing prostitution. The girls were taught to read the Bible and later apprenticed or engaged as domestic servants.

M.16-1986