Goblet

Date1681

MediumWood, silver

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Terms

Object numberC01243

DescriptionDark brown coconut chalice or goblet mounted with three silver straps and a silver rim. Circular silver base. Inscribed 'Thomas Dell'.
Although we are quite used to coconuts, in earlier times they were quite exotic but many collections have coconut cups and possibly they were less rare than we might think.
"Coconut" is a later term for these nuts and before the 17th century they would have been known as Nut of India or Great Nut and in early times the meat was used for medicinal purposes. The nut's shape and useful size made it a good drinking cup and English wood workers liked to turn them into decorative items with precious metal embellishments.

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