An Unusual and Fine Pair of George II Cups and Covers of Large Size
Each on a trumpet shaped base and chased around the edge with a band of flowers and leaves in the rococo style. The stems plain but with two applied reeded wires supporting wide tapering bowls. The latter also chased with a bold band of flowers, leaves, scrolls and shellwork above engraved vacant cartouches, all in the rococo taste. The moulded and domed lids with two similar bands of chasing identifying with those on the cups and all around central leaf bud finials. The interiors gilded.
Date
Maker
1753
Benjamin Gignac
Weight
Dimensions
76 oz (2369gm)
13" (23 cm) high, 5.5" (14cm) diameter at rim
Price
£18,000
Essay
At first sight these may look like a very large pair of communion cups. However, there is no iconography to suggest this so a possible use might be that they were a very unusual form of loving cup. Instead of each having two handles these are formed as very large goblets with covers. This is a form of cup we have not encountered before at this period.
There is no record of Benjamin Gignac's apprenticeship but he entered his first mark in 1745. In Arthur Grimwade's book on London Goldsmiths 1697-1837, he records Gignac's entry of this first mark and address as at "de karner Gre den kort". Grimwade comments further "His very odd attempt at spelling with the k's for c's leaves a feeling of Flemish or German origin, but the Gre remains a mystery, possibly an abbreviation of Great". It is known that Gignac was a Huguenot.
