• Height:
  7 1/4" high Inches
• Period:
  18th Century
• Origin:
  England/Ireland

Exotic coconut fits perfectly into the classical design of this rare and intriguing 18th-century English cup by Parker & Simpson. Set upon fluted, tripod column with ball-and-claw feet, the polished shell is adorned with a fitted lid, with an urn finial, and handle, rare features among these intriguing cups. The use of rare and exotic materials such as the coconut became popular across Europe during the Middle Ages when it was believed that these unique materials from distant lands possessed mystical powers. It was held that they could detect, and even deter, the effects of poison and as such were employed as drinking vessels, often mounted with ornate embellishments of silver. As more trade routes opened up during the 16th century, materials such as the coconut became more widely available, though still only afforded to the wealthy minority in Europe and England. And, while they eventually lost their appeal for their magical powers, coconuts proved an ideal material for cups and pots and retained their popularity as such. Very similar silver-mounted coconut cups can be found in the most respected museum collections, including the Gilbert Collection.

Hallmarked London, 1799