The International Exhibition: drinking-cup formed from a human skull... 1862. Creator: Unknown
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The International Exhibition: drinking-cup formed from a human skull... 1862. Creator: Unknown
The International Exhibition: drinking-cup formed from a human skull, in the Chinese Court, 1862. This object...was taken from the Summer Palace of Pekin...by an officer of Fane's Horse [a cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army]...The skull is set in massive gold...a few very small jewels are added; the arch-shaped base the triangular foot, and the cover being entirely formed of solid gold...In the horizontal band, which may be regarded as the rim of the cup, a series of small stones are set, and in the broad vertical band surrounding the lid there are also jewels; likewise in the knob at the top there are stones...Peculiar interest is excited by this work, as it is said to be formed of the skull of Confucius, and that it is mounted in this rich style in honour of its former owner. Others affirm that this is not the case, and that the skull belonged to a great rebel who was slain, and as the head of John the Baptist was presented to Herodius on a charger, so the skull of the enemy was presented to the chief of the Celestial Empire to satisfy his malignity...we should rather judge it to be a sacred than profane cup; and to us, with but limited knowledge of the worship of the Chinese, it seems to bear upon it tokens of religious service'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862
Media ID 35125109
© The Print Collector/Heritage Images
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