Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Vase or wine cistern, oval krater form, standing on a spreading fluted stem and plain oval foot, the body engraved on one side with presentation inscriptions from the county of Denbigh to Colonel Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn in English and Latin, and mounted with an eagle bearing a shield quarterly of six for Williams-Wynn; engraved on the other with a two verse englyn or Welsh eulogy and mounted with a shield bearing the device of the seal of the town of Denbigh; above a narrow band of running scrolls and a bold egg and dart calyx; everted lip, ornamented with egg and tongue and with beading.

This massive piece of Regency plate was presented by the county of Denbigh to Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th baronet. The vase commemorated his service during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and in southern France in 1814. From 1948, the vase was used as the Mitchell-Hedges trophy for the National Coal Board's first aid competition.