“Cup of Majesty,” Coronation Gift, Goes to Holyrood

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 11

“Cup of Majesty,” Coronation Gift, Goes to Holyrood

LONDON —“Calix Majestatis”— the Cup of Majesty—is not too high a title for a work of art which has been accepted for the Crown for Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Holyrood Amenity Trust. This work, the gift of a private citizen, is a large silver-gilt cup designed by Air Frank Dobson, the sculptor, who has embodied in it u record ot the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. It has been prououuced an outstanding work of art and one of the most interesting of its kind produced in Great Britain for many years. The royal crest surmounts the cover of the cup and the coat of arms ami garter adorn its body. The supporting lion and unicorn, sculptured in flat relief, take the position of handles. On the reverse side are the crown and the initials “G.R. ” “E.R.”

The cup stands on a Devon marble plinth which is carved in nine steps to represent is carved in nine steps to represent tho dynasties of the King au<J Queens of Britain since the Saxon King Egbert who reigned from 827-839. The cup itself symbolizes the House of Windsor.

The steps of the plinth are massed in an artistic arrangement to set off the dignity of the cup itself. The periods during which each historic dynasty has occupied the throne are shown figuratively by means of small gold plaques bearing the dates of each.

“What kind of people are those who have just moved in next door to you?” asked Mrs Gadder.

“Oh, I never talk about my neighbours,” replied Mrs Knowalot. “All I know about them is that their stuff came in one van, that oulyone of their bedsteads has any brass on it, most of the furniture looks old, there’s six in the family, the children are all boy*, they have two dogs, the inan is about twenty years older than the woman, they had a squabble with the driver of the van wheu they settled with him, and and their name is Smith.” <£ <B> <s> Mystery Little Mary went on a visit to her grand-parents, who told her the story of Noah and the Ark. “Were you in the Ark, grandpa?” she asked. “No, my child,” was the reply. “Then why weren’t you drowned ” A little later she said to her grandmother: “Grannie, it says in the story that they went into the Ark two by two, doesn’t it?” “Yes, so they did, darling,” was the reply. The little girl gazed at her intently for a time, then asked, gravely: '‘Who went in with vou, grannie?”