Essay

Stirrup cups first appeared in the 1770's and always modelled as the head of a fox. They were made from sheet silver, embossed and chased to the required form. By the 19th century this method was transformed by casting producing far better specimens and much heavier in weight. It also saw the creation of other heads apart from the fox: stags, dogs, bulls, rabbits and even a gorilla! James Barclay Hennell produced some of the best in the second half of the century.