Lot 259
Edwardian Silver-Gilt Replica of The Bacon Cup, Crichton Bros., London, 1909
Note:
The Redgrave Bacon Cup, in the British Museum, was made for Sir Nicholas Bacon (1509-79) in 1574 from the Great Seal of Mary I, Queen of England (reigned 1552-58). At the death of each monarch, or at the change of Lord Chancellor, the Great Seal of England was defaced and replaced by another. It was part of the 'perquisite' of office that the Lord Chancellor and Keeper of the new Great Seal was allowed to keep the obsolete seal; they were usually melted down and used to make such commemorative items as salvers or cups.