Three examples from a rare set of six Jacobite drinking glasses that made £7500 at Lyon & Turnbull.
Most of the examples offered at Lyon & Turnbull (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) on August 16 were single glasses and the majority were engraved with the typical Jacobite motifs of a rose and buds, although some had other more specific engraved details linking them to the supporters of the exiled James Francis Edward Stuart and his son Charles Edward Stuart.
All but one sold at a variety of four-figure prices.
High-ranking owner
Topping the bill was a rare set of six 18th century glasses, 6in (15cm) high, with bell-shaped bowls set on air-twist stems engraved with a rose head flanked by buds and foliage.
Sets of Jacobite glasses are rare survivals. The auction house said: “It is tantalising to consider that these glasses must have sat on a Jacobite table, belonging to a supporter who was very confident in his position and status, and who had a close group of companions he could share his views with.
“As such a statement of wealth, taste and prominence within the Jacobite community, it can be assumed they were owned by an important high-ranking Jacobite.”
Lyon & Turnbull sold a comparable set in May 2018 for £6500 including premium. The set offered in August, which had a guide of £3000-5000, realised £7500 (or £9450 including premium).
Jacobite glass engraved with the mottos Success to the Society and Gang Warily and a thistle, £6500 at Lyon & Turnbull.
The most expensive individual glass in the group at £6500 was a 6in (15cm) high 18th century opaque twist stem glass with a bucket bowl that was engraved with a thistle and leaves plus the Jacobite motto Success to the Society as well as the family motto Gang Warily.
Jacobite drinking glass engraved Success to the Society, a rose and thistle, £4000 at Lyon & Turnbull.
A second glass of the same size and shape with the same Success to the Society motto but dated to the mid 18th century and with engraving of a rose head and two buds as well as a thistle realised £4000.
Prince portrayed
Jacobite glass with a portrait of Charles Edward Stuart, £2200 at Lyon & Turnbull.
There was one Jacobite portrait glass on offer: a 6¾in (17.3cm) high air-twist stemmed example engraved to the trumpet bowl with a profile of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (The Young Pretender) within a laurel leaf cartouche, as well as an open rose flanked by open and closed buds and a thistle.
This was dated to the late 18th century (earlier Jacobite glasses tend to be from the middle of the century) and sold for £2200 against a £600-800 estimate.
