A FINE CHARLES II TREEN LIGNUM VITAE WASSAIL BOWL

A FINE CHARLES II TREEN LIGNUM VITAE WASSAIL BOWL
C.1670

with a plain body on a turned stem and spreading foot, the contemporary silver rim with the inscription 'Antony RINDO + EXETER' above an engraved border of foliate lobes
26.5cm high, 25.2cm diameter

Provenance

Purchased from Maria Baer, Davies Street, London.
The Adler Collection of Treen.

Catalogue Note
A legacy of Anglo-Saxon culture, wassailing ceremonies traditionally occurred on important feast days, especially Twelfth Night. The term 'wassail' itself derives from the Anglo-Saxon 'waes hael', meaning 'good health'. This expression of well-wishing was exchanged as the wassail bowl was passed round the table for guests to share its contents of mulled ale. The bowl had become, by the Stuart period, a significant status symbol and grew greatly in size during the 17th century, thanks to the adoption of lignum vitae as a turnery wood around 1660. With its large hardwood core and its particular durability, this timber revealed itself ideal for making large drinking vessels, especially as its sap was also considered to have healing properties. The pinnacle in this production is arguably epitomised by Post-Restoration wassail bowls, such as the example offered here. Recent examples of this date sold in these rooms include lot 14, 4th October 2017, which fetched £14,000 hammer, as well as lot 101, 6th July 2021, which achieved £8,500 hammer and lot 43, 3rd April 2019, which made £6,500 hammer.