Collection Highlights
Decanter and stopper
1823-1845
1936.696ab
Glass
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Loving cup
Object name
Loving cup
Date
1894
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 8 3/8 x 12 x 6 3/8 in. ( 21.3 x 30.5 x 16.2 cm )
Description
Wrought and cast silver loving cup; globular fluting around the lower body tapering in the center and flaring to the lip; reeded rim with triangular drops aplied around the inside of the rim; two hollow cast scroll handles applied to each side of the body; cast laurel garaland applied to the front of the cup with a cast oak tree and the inscription, "EDWIN*LAWRENCE*GODKIN/ *DECIMVSXXXI*/ *MDCCCXCIV*" applied inside the garland; engraved on the reverse and the base, "From Friends/ in grateful recognition of/ fearless and unfaltering/ services to the / City of New York" in script; makers' marks stamped on the base.
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Lawrence Godkin
Object Number
1948.135
Marks
applied: on the front center: "EDWIN*LAWRENCE*GODKIN/ *DECIMVSXXXI*/ *MDCCCXCIV*"
engraved: on the reverse and base: "From Friends/ in grateful recognition of/ fearless and unfaltering/ services to the / City of New York" in script
stamped: on the base: "TIFFANY & Co/ 10621 MAKERS 8676/ STERLING SILVER/ 925-1000/ T"
Gallery Label
This loving cup was presented to journalist Edwin Lawrence Godkin (1831-1902) for his efforts in exposing corruption in city government. Editor-in-chief of the New York Evening Post, Godkin was a "handsome, bearded, hot-tempered Celt, delighting in combat, brooding in melancholy, vivacious and pugnacious." He was so unrelenting in his exposure of corrupt practices by Tammany Hall politicians that on one occassion, they had him arrested for criminal libel three times in one day.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
