Beschreibung:

A massive Renaissance style German parcel-gilt silver cup and cover, the master of the B and anchor, circa 1860 the cover finial modelled as Diana with her dog, above hunting vignettes and three applied griffin masks, the waisted body chased with further hunting and bucolic scenes among masks and ornate scrolling foliage, further vignettes applied with mermaids, the stem modelled as a Satyr seated on a rocky mound among insects, the domed circular base chased with hunting vignettes between applied griffins, with presentation inscription: 'Presented to Charles Du Cane Esq. M.P for North Essex by his Constituents and Friends on his appointment as Governor Of Tasmania, October 1868' ‘PRESENTATION TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. – His Excellency Charles Du Cane, Esq., has just received from England a magnificent silver cup, being part of a testimonial presented to him by his late constituents of North Essex. . . . We had an opportunity yesterday of inspecting the cup at Government House. It is a most elegant and massive pieced of plate, weighing probably about 250 ounces, and it stands about 3 ft. 6 in. high. It is of Italian manufacture, and evidently very old workmanship, although it would difficult in the absence of proper references to fix the probably period. The design is classic and exceedingly chaste, and is evidently intended to work out a particular story, but no description has been forwarded with it. The base of the pedestal is of silver richly gilt, and surrounded by an elaborate silver fret work, divided by curious masks, beautifully moulded in gild silver. Above this are a series of silver medallions in relief, representing incidents of the chase, and these are set on a richly worked ground of gilt silver. Next comes a square pedestal of the same metal of beautiful design, and from this springs the trunk of a tree presented in gilt silver, beside which is posed a figure of Actæon, the patron of hunting, who, as our classical readers are aware, was turned into a Hart by Diana, and afterwards pursued and devoured by his own dogs. The figure is represented with the legs, hoofs and horns, of the Hart and on his head is borne the cup, a most elaborate piece of workmanship, very skillfully designed; on the base, bowl and lid of which are a series of twelve silver reliefs representing incidents of the chase, and between these on a richly embossed ground-work, are grotesque representations of mermaids, and other mythological creations, all executed in gilt-silver in full relief. Surmounting the hole is a colossal figure of Diana, the Goddess of the chase, in silver and silver-git. The figure is in accordance with the most approved representations, being gracefully posed, the right hand in the act of withdrawing an arrow from the quiver hanging at her shoulders, while in the left she holds a gentle hind by a golden chain. The whole design is extremely beautiful, and we may safely say that such a piece of plate has seldom been seen at this end of the world. Around the gilt lip of the cup is the inscription, engraved in old England characters: ‘’Presented to Charles Du Cane, Esq., M.P. for North Essex, by his constituents and friends, on his appointment as Governor Tasmania. October, 1868.’’’ ( The Mercury , Hobart Town, Tasmania, Wednesday, 26 May 1869, p. 2d) 98cm., 38 1/2 in. high 6416gr., 206oz. 5dwt.