Wager cup 1715 - 1725

This silver wager cup, crafted by Jonah Clifton around the early 18th century, presents us with a figure of a woman supporting a vessel above her head. This act of bearing is not new; think of the ancient Greek Caryatids, sculpted female figures serving as architectural supports, embodying strength and burden. The wager cup’s lady, however, is more than just a pillar. She is jovial, convivial, and ready to celebrate. The cup she holds invites shared experiences, bonding, and festivity. Consider how such symbolic gestures endure and transform. In medieval iconography, figures bearing objects overhead often signified offering or supplication. Here, the gesture is secularized, socialized, and democratized, signaling inclusivity and shared joy. This evolution speaks to the enduring human need for connection, a potent force that transcends time and culture, manifesting in ever-changing forms.