SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

In this Forum we discuss the silver of the United Kingdom, as well as British Colonial silver and Old Sheffield Plate.

Past British - Irish Sterling topics/threads worth a look.

How to Post Photos

Want to be a Moderator?
customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  British / Irish Sterling
tline3open  Goblet w/ Oxford University Arms

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Goblet w/ Oxford University Arms
Brent

Posts: 1507
Registered: May 99

iconnumber posted 08-27-2009 04:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Brent     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote




Here is another puzzler. It is a fine silver goblet, completely gilded and decorated with flat chasing and shallow repousse. One one side is a representation of the arms of Oxford University, with the motto Dominus Illuminatio Mea. The opposite cartouche, seemingly intended for an inscription, is blank. The bowl and foot are spun, and stylistically I would date it to 1850-1870. It looks and feels like solid silver, and I am quite confident that it is. But, there are no marks whatsoever, which I find very odd.

Can anyone shed any light on this fine piece?

Brent

IP: Logged

agphile

Posts: 798
Registered: Apr 2008

iconnumber posted 08-28-2009 03:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for agphile     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A nice puzzle. You would expect an item that was some sort of Oxford souvenir to have been sold in England and therefore to have been hallmarked. By Victorian times the provincial maker who might not always mark his work was a thing of the past. I suppose it is possible that an expat Oxford alumnus in the colonies might have commissioned it locally?

IP: Logged

agphile

Posts: 798
Registered: Apr 2008

iconnumber posted 09-04-2009 05:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for agphile     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I've been trying to think who on earth would want a silver goblet with an Oxford badge. Not that I mean to be rude about Oxford, but if I wanted something to commemorate my University days at the other place I think I would go for my College rather than the University and for something not too ostentatious. I suspect a similar hierarchy of loyalties would apply at both Universities in Victorian times as well as now. One possibility that occurs to me is that there would probably have been a number of Oxford graduates in most parts of the former British Empire (in the Colonial Service and the Church, but also in all sorts of other employment or even idleness). Might a group of them have come together in some sort of drinking/dining club and commissioned silver for it? Just idle speculation, of course, in an attempt to support my earlier suggestion of a colonial origin.

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices