Reference Number: N0131
Date: 1800
Extent: 2 items, cup and cover
Materials: Silver
Size: 580(h) x 370(w) mm, 5735 grammes approximately
Provenance: Presented to Lloyd’s by S J Aubrey, 10th April 1935

Description: George III silver cup and cover with the inscription in an oval cartouche with rope twist boarders ‘Presented by the Underwriters of Lloyd’s Coffee House to Captain Hugh Crow, for his Gallant Conduct in defending the Ship Will against a French Privateer on his Voyage from Africa to the West Indies, 21 February, 1800.’ On the opposite side is a further oval cartouche depicting Crow’s ship in battle with a French ship. Crow (1765–1829), was a privateer, slave trader and slave ship captain. He made thirteen slave ship voyages between 1790 and 1807, serving on seven as captain and mainly worked out of Liverpool. His memoirs, recounting his slave trading activities were published posthumously in 1830. The cup and cover represent an elaborate gift by Lloyd’s underwriters. The cover is waisted with a cast finial in the form of Neptune sitting on two dolphins above smooth acanthus chasing, with rope twist borders. The loop handles are formed as pairs of winged serpents, the rim cast and applied with a band of opposing dolphins enclosing bulrushes and at the base of the body is a band of smooth acanthus chasing. It has a waisted circular base with acanthus chasing and rope twist border. The maker’s mark is WF for William Frisbee and it was assayed in London.

Notes: For more information on Hugh Crow see the Underwriting Souls Exhibition “Lloyd’s and Slavery, Beyond Insurance and After Abolition”.