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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: ironlord1963 on June 18, 2009, 09:43:04 PM
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O.K. lets see if someone out there knows what this is. Me and the lady have search for a couple of hours (days if you into fish Tales). It would seem to be some kinda of drinking vessel, but maybe just decorative. It stands about 8 1/2" Tall and the little shot glass (best i could come up with) pivots, making quite a mess when trying to drink from it :P. If you were to hold it like a drinking vessel it would be upside down and would not be able to set it down. (there goes the carpet at the next party). Anyway just thought I would ask. Oh yea no hallmarks, most likely just vintage at best.
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No clue here ...
but my guess is a candle-snuffer ?
& sorta reminds me of a majicians' prop .
or a tippy cup for drunk seniors .
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Candle snuffer sounds like a pretty good call. better then trying to drink from it.
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I think I may have found your answer , ironlord ....
You might want to check out :
The Project Guttenberg eBook of -
Arts & Crafts in the Middle Ages , by Addison , Julia deWolf Gibbs .
In it is a description of a cup that was used way back then ... the object was to drink from the large cup without spilling any from the little cup that pivots .
Go figure , huh ?
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Thanks I will check that out.
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This one has been bugging me .
Finally found your "real" answer , ironlord1963 .
Thanks for posting something to get me thinking .
Your 'thing' is known as a 'wager cup' .
Here's an image of a fancy-schmancey one .
It's a Reed & Barton , c1966 , sterling silver .
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Cool that is a match in style, mine not that nice though. Wager Cup sounds better then Widget cup :D. Thanks again
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Came across these many years ago and this is a German "wedding cup" or originally called the Nuernberg Bridal Cup- to be used in a marriage ceremony to toast in the new marriage! The smaller end for the bride and the larger end for the groom - thus the rotating/tipping ability of the smaller cup. (Having a mom who lived in Germany has really come in handy on this site at times - I will have to tell her again - always puts a smile on her face!)
http://www.german-toasting-glasses.com/german_wedding_cups.html (http://www.german-toasting-glasses.com/german_wedding_cups.html)
"The Legend of the Nuernberg Bridal Cup"
Centuries ago, in old Nuernberg, the nobel mistress Kunigunde fell in love with a young and ambitious goldsmith. Although Kunigunde's wealthy father (a powerful nobleman) did not Traditional German Wedding Cupapprove of this pair, it was clear that she only wanted the goldsmith to be her husband as she refused many titled and rich suitors who asked for her hand in marriage.
Her father became so enraged that he had the young goldsmith thrown into the darkest dungeon. Not even his daughter's bitter tears would change her father's mind.
To her father's dismay, imprisoning the young man did not end his daughter's love for the goldsmith. Instead, he could only watch as his daughter grew paler and paler as a result of the separation from her true love. The wealthy nobleman reluctantly made the following proposal: He told his daughter, "If your goldsmith can make a chalice from which two people can drink at the same time without spilling one single drop, I will free him and you shall become his bride". Of course he was certain nobody could perform such a task...
Inspired by love and with skillful hands, the young goldsmith created a masterpiece. He sculpted a girl with a smile as beautiful as his own true love's. Her skirt was hollowed to serve as a cup. Her raised arms held a bucket that swivels so that it could be filled and then swung towards a second drinker. The challenge was met. The goldsmith and the nobleman's daughter joined hands in marriage and with the bridal cup set forth a romantic and memorable tradition as charming today as it was originally hundreds of years ago.
To this day and to many couples the chalice remains a symbol.
Love, faithfulness and good luck await the couple who drink from this cup.
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That's the story all right , KC .
Nuremberg , Germany c.1565
Originally known as "Jungfraubecher" .
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Thanks again that is wonderful history of the item, I have learned much and still am here , did I mention you guys rock ;D
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I always wondered how many brides were willing to drink from a tippy cup and spill all over their wedding gowns!
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Hopefully was/is a white wine! :) AND....I bet the groom was/is extra careful or he was/is starting out the marriage.....need I say more?!
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Which , of course , led to it being called a wager cup .
(side bets from the 'peanut gallery' & wedding party)