Christening Mug
1865 (made), 1848 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This silver child's mug is embossed with guardian angels and may have been intended as a christening gift. It was the custom for godparents to make gifts of silver mugs or spoons to a child being christened or baptised.
Historical Context
The prototype of this mug was made for the Felix Summerly Art Manufactures by Harry Emanuel from a design by the well known Victorian artist Richard Redgrave. Henry Cole, the first Director of the V&A, adopted the name of Felix Summerly in 1843 when he began to write and produce children's books, having been dissatisfied with the quality of those available for his own family. The Felix Summerly Art Manufactures were set up to produce well designed everyday objects to allow the public to buy items designed by the best artists and made by the best manufacturers at affordable prices. The design for this mug was mentioned in the first catalogue from 1847 but the object pictured here was made specifically for the Museum in 1865 after the failure of the Art Manufactures.
Design & Designing
The decorative theme is clearly relevant to the mug's function as advocated by Henry Cole and other design reformers. However, the embossed ornament contradicts the views later held by Redgrave that ornament should be part of the construction of the object rather than an addition to it. The heavily embossed angels also go against design principles by making it difficult to drink from the mug, thus allowing the decoration to interfere with the function.
This silver child's mug is embossed with guardian angels and may have been intended as a christening gift. It was the custom for godparents to make gifts of silver mugs or spoons to a child being christened or baptised.
Historical Context
The prototype of this mug was made for the Felix Summerly Art Manufactures by Harry Emanuel from a design by the well known Victorian artist Richard Redgrave. Henry Cole, the first Director of the V&A, adopted the name of Felix Summerly in 1843 when he began to write and produce children's books, having been dissatisfied with the quality of those available for his own family. The Felix Summerly Art Manufactures were set up to produce well designed everyday objects to allow the public to buy items designed by the best artists and made by the best manufacturers at affordable prices. The design for this mug was mentioned in the first catalogue from 1847 but the object pictured here was made specifically for the Museum in 1865 after the failure of the Art Manufactures.
Design & Designing
The decorative theme is clearly relevant to the mug's function as advocated by Henry Cole and other design reformers. However, the embossed ornament contradicts the views later held by Redgrave that ornament should be part of the construction of the object rather than an addition to it. The heavily embossed angels also go against design principles by making it difficult to drink from the mug, thus allowing the decoration to interfere with the function.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, embossed and chased |
| Brief description | Christening cup |
| Physical description | Cast handle in form of a leaf. Silver, raised, embossed, cast handle |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Designed by Richard Redgrave CB, RA (born in London, 1804, died there in 1888) for Felix Summerly's Art Manufactures; made by the firm of Harry Emanuel, London On old gallery label: "Originally designed by SH & D Gass in 1849 and reissued by Harry Emmanuel, London 1865". In 1865 Harry Emmanuel published "Diamonds and Precious Stones" Neg._No: ca 2026 |
| Summary | Object Type This silver child's mug is embossed with guardian angels and may have been intended as a christening gift. It was the custom for godparents to make gifts of silver mugs or spoons to a child being christened or baptised. Historical Context The prototype of this mug was made for the Felix Summerly Art Manufactures by Harry Emanuel from a design by the well known Victorian artist Richard Redgrave. Henry Cole, the first Director of the V&A, adopted the name of Felix Summerly in 1843 when he began to write and produce children's books, having been dissatisfied with the quality of those available for his own family. The Felix Summerly Art Manufactures were set up to produce well designed everyday objects to allow the public to buy items designed by the best artists and made by the best manufacturers at affordable prices. The design for this mug was mentioned in the first catalogue from 1847 but the object pictured here was made specifically for the Museum in 1865 after the failure of the Art Manufactures. Design & Designing The decorative theme is clearly relevant to the mug's function as advocated by Henry Cole and other design reformers. However, the embossed ornament contradicts the views later held by Redgrave that ornament should be part of the construction of the object rather than an addition to it. The heavily embossed angels also go against design principles by making it difficult to drink from the mug, thus allowing the decoration to interfere with the function. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 371-1865 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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