Egg Cup, part of set
Dateca. 1810
Manufactured by
Matthew Boulton & Plate Co.
(1782 - 1833)
OriginEngland, Birmingham
MediumFused silverplate (Sheffield Plate); gold (gilt lined)
DimensionsHt.: 2 3/4"; Diam. at lip: 2 1/2"; Diam. at foot: 1 1/2"
Credit LineBequest of Dr. Lowry Dale Kirby.
Object number1991-715,3
DescriptionCircular, weighted base with stepped edge and plain neck supports deep cup with gadrooning at lower third and edged with six radiating arcs, with reeding and with six small acanthus leaves at junctures of arcs. Interior of cup is gilded.Label TextDr. Lowry Dale Kirby of Nashville, TN left a major collection of Sheffield plate to Colonial Williamsburg including this beautiful Sheffield plate egg frame with six cups which follows the pattern of egg frames first introduced in the late 18th century. This particular egg frame with gilt lined egg cups for boiled eggs was made ca. 810 in Birmingham, England by Matthew Boulton and is a departure from the plain egg cups normally found in 19th century pieces. The gilt lining on the cups in addition to beautifying the piece reduced the amount of tarnish from the egg yolks and salt. It has two engraved crests on the handle.
The sulfur in egg yolks causes silver and copper to tarnish very quickly. The gilding inside of these egg cups helped protect them from wear.
MarkingsMarked incuse on underside of egg cup with 1) a sun; 2) an oak leaf; and 3) a sun. This combination of marks is not published.
ProvenanceEx Coll: Dr. Lowry Dale Kirby, Nashville, TN
ca. 1810
ca. 1810
ca. 1810
ca. 1810
ca. 1810
Ca. 1790
1755-1770