A Charles II Silver Tumbler-Cup, Maker's Mark Lacking, Attributed to Thomas Mangy, York, 1673, slightly tapering cylindrical, chased with foliage and flowers and engraved with a crest, 9cm diameter, 6.5cm high, 5oz 6dwt

Provenance:
with Alastair Dickenson Ltd., London.

As the present cup is lacking a maker's mark it is impossible to confirm who made it, thought it does compare closely to other examples by Thomas Mangy, including a slightly smaller example of 1675, engraved with initials 'IH' over 'TH' which was sold Christie's London, 1 December 2005. In the catalogue for that example Christie's notes a further example of the same date which was sold 12 November 1980.

A further example was previously in the Albert Collection (R. Butler, The Albert Collection: Five Hundred Years of British and European Silver, London, 2004, no. 122). Each of these examples is, like the present example, boldly chased with foliage and flowers and with a similar cartouche.

Thomas Mangy was from an extensive family of silversmiths working in York in the 17th century, being at least a third generation silversmith, his father George having been made free in 1639 and his grandfather Christopher in 1610. His uncle Henry and cousins Arthur and George were also silversmiths, with the younger of his cousins having relocated to Leeds by 1690 and was eventually executed there for having forged a coin (see H. Murray, A Directory of York Goldsmiths, Silversmith and Associated Craftsmen, York, 1998, pp. 92-93 for further biographical details).

Thomas was made free by Patrimony in 1665 and must have been a silversmith of some talent based on the existing plate which bears his mark. Items he was responsible for making include everything from spoons, see for example the Strickland Death's Head Spoon (Victoria and Albert Museum no. M.12-1932) to a tankard of 1680 (Christie's, London, 21 June 2011, lot 96).