Description: This is an Estate Fresh old Stirrup Cup or Hunt Cup from a long time collector of Antique Hunting Memorabilia in New York State. I have owned this Stirrup Cup for over 25 years and bought it from the estate myself. The past owner had it longer than I did. Now, for me, its time to give this a new home. Its about as rare of a Stirrup Cup as I have seen. Made of Terra Cotta I believe, not porcelain like many of the Staffordshire Cup you see. Its English I believe and may have been made by Wedgewood. The seemingly Neo-Classical style of the original painted finish makes me believe that as Wedgewood certainly had wares that were of similar decorative design, but I cannot be positive, I am no expert. It could be late 1700's Austrian or Dutch, but I don't believe so. What is the most unusual part is the shape, the pottery Boars Head with intact relief ears and amazing detailing on the Head snout mouth and those mean looking teeth. A pretty impressive gift to offer on a Boar Hunt. Its really quite stunning. It stands 4.25" on its end and is about 2.5"across its widest. Huntsmen still use stirrup cup to designate and toast with an alcoholic drink offered to riders either as they are about to depart or when they return. The term stirrup cup originally denoted a cup of wine Port or Sherry, or of other alcoholic beverage, offered to a horseman ready to ride away weather to Toast for a Hunt or just leaving a Hosts Home, hence also any farewell drink. The expression also denotes a drink offered to an arriving guest before he has dismounted while feet are still in the Stirrup, and the drinking vessel itself – thus the term Stirrup Cup. One of its earliest occurrences is found in The Praise of York-shire Ale, wherein is enumerated several sorts of Drinks, with a Discription [sic] of the Humours of most sorts of Drunkards (3rd edition – 1697), by George Meriton (1634-1711?), a legal and miscellaneous writer: "Boy, lead our horses out; when we get up, Wee’l have with you a merry stirrup cupp; Then we to famous Yorke will hast away, For thither wee’l adjourn the court this day. The horses were lead out, they mounted all, And each of them did for a flagon call." Please check out my item condition description above and check out my photos so that you will know exactly what you are buying because you are buying it as seen, as is, and as found. Any questions PLEASE ask! Thanks for looking at my Auctions & Buy it Nows, and PLEASE, check and see the other cool stuff I have listed currently!! I do not guarantee the age or details of any piece I sell, I am not an expert on age or anything else and can only describe the items to the best of my ability, though I will NOT, knowingly anyway, sell reproductions. My descriptions are solely there to assist buyers finding the items and are not a guaranteed accurate description of the item in all cases. Ultimately the pictures we take serve as my description and it is your decision based on that to decide what you are buying. If you do need information I have neglected to include, please don't hesitate to ask any questions. I'll combine shipping on any items sold, ending on the same day, if possible. I do reserve the right to change the posted delivery service as needed. I do NOT guarantee ANY ebay GSP delivery! I will show delivery to the GSP service provider, but once received by them, its their problem with you...not me!
Price: 2499.99 USD
Location: Bernalillo, New Mexico
End Time: 2024-03-03T19:07:14.000Z
Shipping Cost: 24.99 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Country of Origin: Probably English but could be Dutch Austrian
Style: Neo-Classical ?
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown
Age: I believe this to be early to mid 1800's
Maker: Possibly Wedgewood
Vintage: Yes
Brand: Unbranded