Cup and Cover

Made and hallmarked in London. The marker’s mark in rubbed and not identified. The cup is engraved with the crest of Dundas, later Earls ad Marquesses of Zetland. Beneath the crest is an inscription which reads: “The gift of S’r. Lawrence Dundas Bt. For the best crop of hoed Turnips 1776”. Size: Height, with cover - 20.5 cm. In 1731 Jethro Tull, a Berkshire gentleman, published a book which helped to revolutionise British farming. It was called “Horse Hoeing Husbandry”. It dealt in an imaginative way with new methods of farming. One such improvement was that of weeding crops mechanically with a horse-drawn hoe. Other improvements which he advocated including the rotation of crops over three years to improve the soil. Viscount Townshend, a Norfolk landowner and keen farmer, following by putting theory into practice. He used turnips as a crop in his three yearly cycle and praised the merits of the turnip so much that her became known as Turnip Townshend. The popularity of the turnip grew and its cultivation became widespread so much so that cups, such as the one shown here were presented by landlords to their tenants to encourage the improvement of land.

Collection

Bowes Museum

Inventory Number

2400006

Title

Cup and Cover

Object Type

Image

Measurements

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