Silver & Objects of Vertu - Day 2 - 28th April 2021
Lot 1822
Oxford
Estimate £1,000 - £1,500 | Hammer £1600
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Description
Oxford, All Souls College, Mallard Night, a rare early 19th century gold badge,
1801,
circular form, with the mallard-bearer holding a staff on which sits a mallard, the reverse with the Lord Mallard and six officers in gown and full bottomed wigs with staves, with a hole for a ring attachment, diameter 3.2cm, approx. weight 37g.
C.E. Mallet's 'A History of the University of Oxford' gives an explanation of this event. Mallard night was January 14, when the so called hunting of the mallard took place. This event happens every bone hundred years. This mythical bird or huge duck was supposed to have been found in the early days of the college in the sink or the drains. Another explanation is that it derives from the discovery of a medieval seal for a certain William Malard, whose device was a four legged gryphon.
A silver example is in the Montague Guest Collection in The British Museum with a catalogue entry M.G.193/1493.