Antique 1906 Loving Cup Masonic Lodge Paterson New Jersey Thomas Maddock's Sons

Description: Antique three handled loving cup / chalice : " 1856 - 1906 50th Anniversary Benevolent Lodge No. 45 H. & A. M. Paterson , N. J. " Made by : " Thos. Maddock's Sons Co., Trenton , N. J. " Glazed Pottery / Ceramic / Porcelain 7 1/4" tall. About 7" wide, across the handles. Graduated blue color ( light blue to darker blue base), gold handles, white interior, black lettering. Masonic Square and Compass in middle. No cracks, no breaks. Rubbing to the gilding on the high spots. Otherwise nice condition. 117 years old. Carefully packed for shipment to the buyer. -------------- Additional information : Thomas Maddock was born in 1818 in Burslem, Staffordshire, England , to a family of potters. He arrived with his wife Honor Bossom in New York in 1847. Thomas and his nusiness partner William Leigh set up a china decorating company in New York City - the first of its kind in the United States. Honor Maddock died in 1851 and Thomas remarried to Isabella Smith the following year. Over the next nine years, their union produced three sons: Charles S., Archibald M. and Harry S. Maddock. By 1873, Thomas Maddock had made his way to Trenton and formed a profitable partnership which manufactured earthenware, producing wash basins, pitchers, chamber pots and slop jars, sanitary ware,, mugs and toothbrush holders, dinnerware, and other household pottery utensils. In 1888, Thomas bought the Lamberton Works, renaming it Maddock’s Lamberton Works. There he produced high quality domestic and commercial china dinnerware sold to restaurants, railroad companies and hotels all over America. The compnay was very successful and expanded multiple times... but nothing lasts forever. Thomas Maddock died in 1899. His sons renamed the company Thomas Maddock’s Sons Co. in 1902. The family company continued to thrive until the 1920s when, due to a changing marketplace, Thomas Maddock’s Sons were forced to sell. The company ceased to exist in September of 1929. -------------- A Loving Cup is a large ornamental drinking vessel. It is commonly used as a presentation trophy or as a shared drinking container at ceremonial events. Many Loving Cups have just two hadles, some have three. They can be found in several European cultures. The history of the loving cup dates back to Saxon times, before the Norman conquest of 1066. The ceremony surrounding it is said to derive from the assassination of King Edward the Martyr. The King was murdered while drinking, as by lifting the cup with both hands he left himself vulnerable to attack. Consequently, it became customary for those who stood to drink to have a friend or two defend him with drawn swords. The companions were then able to protect the drinker as they drank. This custom eventually turned into tradition. Now, in the ceremony of the loving cup this ritual is mimicked. At events, the cup passes around a table with each guest drinking to his neighbour. When the one in possession of the cup stands to drink, their neighbours also rise. One stands back to back with whoever is about to drink, to protect them. The other bows to the drinker, removes the lid from the cup, and replaces it when the drinker is done. The same procedure is followed as the cup is passed round the table, with the original drinker becoming guard and so on. Over the years, Loving Cups have come to have several meanings; the cups are sometimes used in marriage riruals. In Freemasonry, the Loving Cup procedure was for three Brethren to stand. Two would unsheath their swords and the third (in the middle) to hold up the cup by two handles and to drink whilst the two others defended him, one facing him and the other with his back to the drinker’s back. Having taking his draught, the drinker then wipes the cup with a napkin. The two brethren with their backs together then turn to face each other and the cup is handed over. The next brother in the line now stands to protect the back of the drinker, and so on. There are many forms of the ceremony but the process of sharing, coupled with mutual protection is the same - it reinforces the ancient Masonic bond. Loving cups are traditionally passed down through generations, blessing those who drink from it with happiness and good fortune. They are often engraved with personal messages, suited to their purpose as family heirlooms.

Price: 160 USD

Location: Coventry, Rhode Island

End Time: 2023-12-16T17:47:08.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD