DRINKING VESSELS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23027, 3 May 1938, Page 4

DRINKING VESSELS

AMAZING COLLECTION CUPS OF ALL NATIONS PUZZLE JUGS AND GOBLETS [from our own correspondent] LONDON, April 9 Treasures of famous city companies and museums, of private collectors and old-established merchants and manufacturers, illustrating the development of "Drinking Vessels through the Ages," form a very comprehensive and interesting collection at the Ideal Home Exhibition. Many of the specimens are unique and in their various ways display domestic craftsmanship down tb* centuries. Primitive peoples dwelling in tropical countries found that nature had provided them with two perfectly good drinking vessels in the gourd and the coconut. The horns of animals slain in the chase were also used, and later clay was fashioned into pots. But the most ancient examples of drinking vessels shown belong to dynastic Egypt and are approximately six to eight thousand years old. There is a beautiful Chinese bronze ritual vessel used for heating sacred wine in the 11th century before Christ, and superb examples of the Greek and Etruscan art of the 7th, sth and 4th centuries? before Christ and Roman glass of the Ist century A.D. are also to bo seen. Native drinking vessels from all over tho world are shown, including a unique series from the Congo, Benin and some of tho Polynesian islands. Spanish Memento In the English section some very valuable and historic vessels are On display. A uniquo piece is tho twohandled cup and cover decorated with lions and other s3'inbols of Royalty, which was made to commemorate the accession of Edward VIII. —and never used. Another exhibit of lloval interest is a silver tankard inscribed: "This pott was made of ye silver of ye canopio when King Charles yo 2d was crowned, April 2.'3rd, 1661." The Earl of Strathmore, father of tho Queen, has lent the silver Lion Cup of Glamis, and tho earl of Yarborough tho William tho Silent Tazza Ctip, which was mado to commemorate his victory over tho Spaniards in 1573. A gold tea service used by Queen Victoria at tho Mansion House is also to be seen.

Puzzle Jugs One novel exhibit shows the origin of the word "boot-legging." It is a leather bottle shaped to fit down tho thigh, where it was well concealed by tho enormously high boots of smugglers and seafarers. With it is a series of stono tavern gin bottles and other vessels in the shape of pistols and fishes. Tudor drinking horns discovered on tho site of tho old Globo Theatro arouse enchanting conjectures. Puzzle jugs that spill their contents on the unwary drinker, original Copeland and Wedgwood china, lignum vitae wassail bowls capable of holding four gallons of good cheer, posset pots, 17th century Scottish "qunichs," Toby 'jugs, early Dresden, Serves, Delft and Lambeth pottery, cut glass, rhinoceros horns that were ground down to make lovp philtres, chalices, goblets, and loving coips—all these and many fine, rare and commonplace vessels (which who knows what thousands of lips have touched in joy or despair), complete a fascinating collection which is said to be worth about £IOO,OOO.