A Goldsmiths’ Company Court of Assistants’ silver Wine Cup made for Lord Runciman.

A rare 20th century silver Wine Goblet, engraved with the coat-of-arms of the Goldsmiths’ Company and with the arms of Runciman, as an ‘Assistants’ Cup, London 1959, by H. & L. Parsons. The underside of the foot is engraved ‘Made by C.J. Vander Ltd. For Tessiers Ltd. Designed by M.E. Gould‘. The stem of the goblet incorporates seahorses and a thistle, as elements of the Runciman crest. The interior with light gilding.
In 1957, the Goldsmiths’ Company in London began a tradition whereby new members of the Court of Assistants would purchase a specially designed silver Wine Goblet. This goblet was made for Viscount Runciman of Doxford when elected to the Court. M. E. Gould carried out design work for Vanders, Wakely and Wheeler, Mappin and Webb and Tessiers and also taught metalworking, silversmithing, and, later, three-dimensional design at Twickenham Art College. Viscount Runciman was Prime Warden of the Company in 1963/4. This goblet was exhibited at the exhibition ‘The Goldsmith and the Grape’, held at the Goldsmiths’ Company in July 1983.