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#JacobiteGlass #HistoricAuction #TraitorGlass #BonniePrinceCharlie #ScottishHistory #AntiqueCollectors #RareArtifacts #JacobiteRising #FineArtAuction #HistoricCollectibles #JacobiteHeritage #AntiqueGlassware #HistoricTreasures #CollectibleGlass #JacobiteLegacy
A rare and historically significant collection of Jacobite “traitor” drinking glasses, valued at tens of thousands of pounds, is set to be auctioned by Hawleys Antiques and Fine Art Auction at Beverley Racecourse in East Yorkshire on May 31 and June 1, with a preview day on May 30. These glasses, symbolic of a pivotal moment in Scottish, British, and European history, were used by supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie to secretly toast the Stuart cause after the Battle of Culloden in April 1746—a treasonous act punishable by death.
The glasses are intricately engraved with covert symbols and messages of loyalty to the Jacobite cause, understood only by those initiated into their meaning. Designs include roses symbolizing Bonnie Prince Charlie, oak leaves for the House of Stuart, birds in flight representing the family’s return, and Latin mottos such as Redeat (May he return) and Revirescit (Let it grow again). Their creation and use reflect the defiance of Jacobite supporters during a time of brutal suppression following the failed rebellion. Auctioneer Caroline Hawley describes the six glasses in the auction as “exceptional examples” of Jacobite history, noting their rarity and the global interest they are likely to attract from museums, collectors, and historians.
The Jacobite uprisings began after the Protestant William of Orange overthrew Catholic King James II of England (James VII of Scotland) in 1688. The Jacobites, seeking to restore the exiled Stuart dynasty, launched several rebellions, culminating in the Battle of Culloden. This final and bloodiest battle of the Jacobite Rising saw around 1,600 men killed in less than an hour, the majority of them Jacobites. Bonnie Prince Charlie, their leader, fled to France and never returned to Britain. The aftermath of the battle was marked by harsh repression, with many Jacobites hunted down and killed, effectively crushing the Stuart cause.
Despite the suppression, Jacobites continued to express their loyalty through these secretive glasses, which were likely commissioned by individuals, families, or clandestine clubs. The six glasses in the auction were originally owned by Dr. Geoffrey Seddon, a renowned authority on Jacobite history and author of The Jacobites and their Drinking Glasses. Dr. Seddon sold them to a private collector 17 years ago, and they are now returning to the auction block.
In addition to the Jacobite glasses, the auction features other notable lots, including:
- Four oil paintings by East Riding artist Frederick William Elwell RA (1870-1958).
- Two German and Prussian military helmets: a Prussian Officer’s Garde du Corps helmet worn by the personal guard of Kaiser Wilhelm II, estimated at £4,000-5,000, and a World War I Jäger zu Pferde helmet, estimated at £700-800.
- A stunning collection of several hundred vintage powder compacts, featuring designs from Volupte, Kigu, Lalique, and art deco styles. These compacts come in unique shapes such as hands, flying saucers, hats, and globes.
The Jacobite glasses are not only valuable as antiques but also as poignant reminders of a tumultuous and transformative period in history. Their intricate designs and hidden messages capture the resilience and loyalty of those who risked everything for the Stuart cause, offering a tangible link to the past. This auction presents a rare opportunity for collectors and institutions to acquire these extraordinary pieces of history.
