RARE Unusual Naval Maritime Coconut Cup Cast Iron English Navy Nelson Trafalgar c1810

RARE Unusual Naval Maritime Coconut Cup Iron c1800 English 

It has some wonderful depictions of sailors in uniform on a boat and an amazing dolphin stem.

There is so much to see on the bowl section which looks like the coconut cups that sailors used to carve in the late 1600’s-early 1800’s (see images from museum collections).

There are sailors in their navy uniforms (caps with ribbons, baggy trousers and neck scarves etc) standing, sitting and sorting out rigging/ropes, straddling the sails. You can even see portholes, a coil of rope and seagulls.

At each side (where the handles could be added) are a sailor giving a salute with one hand on the hip.

The stem of this cup is just amazing with a beautifully depicted ‘sea monster’ type dolphin typical of the period and found on maps,silver and furniture. 

When you look inside this delightful cup, you can see that the dolphin is hollow. I believe that a half coconut shell would have sat INSIDE and acted as a liner. 

We believe that this is CAST iron as it is heavy considering the size and that it is hollow. It weighs a solid 1.14kg and stands 8 inches tall x 5.5 inches end to end at the widest point.

This very RARE and delightful work of art is overall in amazing condition.

It may have been gilded/gilt at one point as there seems to be some bright gold residue in the nooks and crannies. 

Please have a look at our other listings as we are always coming across rare, unusual and collectable items!