{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O70551"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O70551/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU9296/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU9296/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU9296","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AN9822","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP9924","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AN9821","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB5079","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O70551/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O70551","accessionNumber":"W.8 to k-1976","objectType":"Wassail set","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>\r\nThis is the bowl from a set made for serving wassail or spiced ale. Other wassail bowls and cups survive, but only this set has a table and candlestands to match. The bowl and cups are in a style made over a long period, but could date from the 1640s.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Historical Associations</b><br>\r\nThe set was owned by one family for generations before it was bought by the V&A in 1976.  Family tradition claims that Charles I gave it to Sir Charles Cokayne, 1st Viscount Cullen, after the Civil War battle at Naseby in 1645. Although the battle did take place near Cokayne's house, Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire, the style of the furniture suggests that this story could only apply to the bowl and cups.  The table and stands must have been added later, in the 1670s, when spirally turned supports were fashionable.<br><br>\r\n\r\n<b>Materials & Making</b><br>\r\nThe set is made of lignum vitae, a dense wood imported from the West Indies. It was often used for wassail bowls as its high oil content makes it resistant to liquids. It also takes incised decoration well.  Both the wood and the ivory, which provides a strong contrast, are decorated with 'rose engine turning', in which delicate circular patterns are incised into the material while it is spun on a lathe.","physicalDescription":"Wassail table, lignum vitae with ivory decoration, enriched with “rose engine turning”.\r\nWassail bowl with lids, lignum vitae, with ivory decoration.\r\nWassail dippers, lignum vitae, with silver rim.\r\nWassail candlestands, lignum vitae with ivory decoration.\r\nWassail candlestick, lignum vitae with ivory decoration.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"lignum vitae","id":"AAT12193"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lignum vitae, with ivory decoration","categories":[{"text":"Woodwork","id":"THES48877"},{"text":"Drinking","id":"THES48965"},{"text":"Christmas","id":"THES48977"},{"text":"Caribbean","id":"THES286921"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AU9296","2006AN9822","2006AP9924","2006AN9821","2017KB5079"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"PL12","shelf":"","box":"2"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"PL12","shelf":"","box":"2"},{"current":{"text":"56D (VA)","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"PL12","shelf":"","box":"2"},{"current":{"text":"56D","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"},{"current":{"text":"56D","id":"THES49242"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":"5"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"table","id":"x31811"}],[{"text":"bowl","id":"AAT203596"}],[{"text":"lid","id":"AAT45712"}],[{"text":"lids","id":"AAT45712"}],[{"text":"dipper","id":"AAT43096"}],[{"text":"dipper","id":"AAT43096"}],[{"text":"dipper","id":"AAT43096"}],[{"text":"dipper","id":"AAT43096"}],[{"text":"candlestand","id":"AAT39797"}],[{"text":"candlestand","id":"AAT39797"}],[{"text":"candlestick","id":"AAT37588"}],[{"text":"candlestick","id":"AAT37588"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1640-1680","earliest":"1640-01-01","latest":"1680-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"50","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"wassail bowl","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"76","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"wassail table","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"89","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"wassail table","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"89","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"wassail table","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"58.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"wassail table","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"7.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"wassail dipper","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"93","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"candlestand","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"24","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"wassail candlestick","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Publication; 08/04/1999 by DW","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This unique ceremonial drinking ensemble is said to have been presented to Sir Charles Cokayne, first Viscount Cullen, by Charles I after the battle of Naseby in 1645. (Dating casts doubt on this tradition). Close inspection of the engine-turned rose ornament shows that two separate craftsmen were involved. The candlestands and table were probably added to make up a set with the wassail bowl and candlesticks in about 1670-80\n\n\"Royal Wassail ensemble\" table &amp; vessels  purchased from Spink &amp; Son Ltd\r\nNotes from R.P. 76/666\r\n\r\n8/3/76 Memo P Thornton to the Director recommends purchase.  \"It is a very attractive  work of exquisite craftsmanship, it has  fascinating associations with several fields of  English history\". Well documented provenance, publications list &amp;  detals of some restorations detailed in Thornton  memo (copy on RP)\r\n\r\n14/4/76 Lord Cullen to Thornton in response to a previous query that there are no  records available in the Family collection.  \"Had  there been I am quite sure that my grandfather G  E Cokayne (the author of the Complete Peerage)  would have discovered them - I suppose it is  possible that there may be some record of the  gift to my ancestor by Charles I in the royal  archives\".\r\n\r\nPer 29/4/77 Thornton memo re. tax rebates Spinks advertised the set and also showed it at  the Antique Dealers Fair after it was bought by  the V &amp; A","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Wassail set, lignum vitae with ivory decoration, England, ca. 1640-80, Rushton House, Northants.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Wilk, Christopher, ed. . <font -u>Western Furniture 1350 to the Present Day</font>. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. 230p., ill. ISBN 085667463X."},{"reference":{"text":"Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), <i>A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum</i>, London: V&A Publications, 1999.","id":"AUTH348910"},"details":"","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"R.W. Symonds, 'Tables, Stands and Glasses'. 'Apollo, April 1933, vol 17, p. 137. "},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bowett, Adam, <i>Wood in British Furniture-Making 1400-1900. An Illustrated Historical Dictionary</i> (Wetherby: Oblong Creative Ltd. in association with the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, 2012. ISBN 978-0-9556576 7 2, p. 112, figs. L6-L8."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"H. Clifford Smith, 'A Royal Wassail Table' in Connoisseur, Vol. LXXVII, no. 307 (1927), pp. 158-62"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Peter Thornton and Simon Jervis, 'King Charles' Wassail Table', Connoisseur, vol CXCII, June 1976, pp. 137-140, 3 illus. \r\n"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\r\nWassail or spiced ale was served at Christmas and on feast days. This elaborate set for serving wassail shows the fine spiral-turning that was a distinctive element of Restoration style. The strongly contrasted luxury materials from which it is made, lignum vitae and ivory, would have been imported.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["W.8-1976","W.8A-1976","W.8B-1976","W.8C-1976","W.8D-1976","W.8E-1976","W.8F-1976","W.8G-1976","W.8H-1976","W.8I-1976","W.8J-1976","W.8K-1976"],"accessionNumberNum":"8","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1976,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN1067","2019LN1071","2019LN1072","2019LN1951","2019LN1957","2019LN2687","2019LN2919","2019LN2921","2019LN2922","2019LN2923","2019LN3171","2019LN6189","2019LN9595","2019LP9892","2019LP9029","2019LP7506","2019LP6093","2019LP3459","2019LP2271","2019LP2111","2019LR5479","2019LR5195","2019LR4963","2019LU8941","2019LU7271","2019LU6754","2019LU6200","2019LU3143","2019LU0881","2019LT7902","2019LV1233","2019LV7694","2019LV7374","2019LV7239","2019LV6693","2019LV6609","2019LV6458","2019LV5862"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-22","recordCreationDate":"2002-11-21","availableToBook":false}}