Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Standing cup and cover, 22 carat gold, in an early 16th century Renaissance style after a design by Hans Holbein, standing on a stepped circular spreading foot, chased with lobes, bands of flowers, foliage and with ovolo and foliage borders on a matted ground, baluster foliage and mask stem, the knop applied with winged cherub busts and pendant wreaths, flanked by adorsed dolphins, flower heads and pendant bead bells; the lower part of the waisted thistle-shape bowl chased with lobes below rosettes and the repeated monogram WWW, the centre chased between two ribs with strapwork on a matted ground, interspersed with four sunk medallion roundels, containing a cast and applied figure in high relief, 1. an eagle, within ERYR ERYROD ERYRI (the eagle of the eagles of Snowdonia), 2. a fox, within Y CADARN AR CYFRWYS (the strong and the sly), 3. a goat, within BWCH YN UCHAF (the ram is on top), 4. a wolf, within CWRW DA YW ALLWEDD CALON (beer is the key to the heart), further strapwork and rosettes above to the spreading lip; shallow domed cover, stepped, chased with strapwork below embossed lobes, tall open baluster finial, comprising two female caryatids blowing long down-curving horns, a platform above with two cherubs supporting a shield engraved with the Williams-Wynn arms in six quaterings, surmounted by a small figure of a lamb with ruby eyes.

This cup is the largest known object made from Welsh gold. It was commissioned by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn (1820-85), 6th Baronet of Wynnstay, Denbighshire and made using gold from the Castell Carn Dochan mine, which was discovered on the family’s estate in 1863. Its design is derived from a drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/8-1543), for a cup given by King Henry VIII to Queen Jane Seymour in 1536.