M. FORD CREECH ANTIQUES & FINE ARTS
 

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"SUPER-CUP!"

THE QUINTESSENTIAL BRITISH LEATHERN

"BLACK-JACK"

SCARCE SILVER-MOUNTED LEATHER BLACK-JACK

Maker’s Mark I.T, Within a Pelleted Oval

England, 18th Century 

Of large beaker form,

the stitched tapering leather vessel having a silver foot and rim mount :

the rim mount with scrolling foliage and flora centering gryphons, and above an incised scalloped edge;

the lower mount also with a vertically incised scalloped edge

above a spreading footrim chased with laurel diapering;

the two mounts connected by three hinged strapwork supports having scalloped edges

 and chased central mask faces between upper and lower flowerheads;

the front with a shaped silver cartouche scratch-initialed D * N

8.25” High / 5.25" Diameter / Volume of 44 oz.

Although the use of leather drinking vessels extends to ancient times, their use in Britain is longer -

and in greater number - than anywhere else in history.

A Neolithic beaker of tanned cowhide (some hair still attached) was found at West Smithfield, London.

 And waterproof leather bags joined by the neck, referred to as "drinking vessels",

were introduced into England during the Crusades.

These were but forerunners of the hard bodied water bottle -

and the well loved quintessentially British leather "Black-Jack".

For those of you unfamiliar with the black-jack :

 "The 'Black-Jack' was a kind of leather pitcher or jug, always lined with pitch on metal,

of massive and sturdy build, corpulent and capacious.

It quite dwarfed all rival pots, mugs, or pitchers of leather."

The leathern vessel retained its high place in both taverns and homes for many centuries.

"Every man of substance took his meals in his hall with his family and servants…. "

When the more luxurious 18th century dining fashions arrived,

"the lord took his meals privately in parlour or dining room,

and the leathern pot re-mained in the servants' hall -

with the exception of those that were silver mounted.

 These latter were smaller as a rule and more richly treated;

they were edged with silver and often lined with that metal or with pewter

in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries -

and were highly prized."

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