Queen Victoria Cup

A three part image. On the top there is an image of a cup with two handles. On the side there is a picture of Queen Victoria. Under there is are two images of the cup. One image has a a list of politicians and their images on the back. On the other side there is an image of Britannia.
Queen Victoria cup from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: England
Year: 1900
Materials: Porcelain and paint 

The style of this cup is known as a three-handled tyg, or a loving cup. Traditionally, the handles of this sort of cup divided the rim for multiple drinkers. Our Queen Victoria Tyg was made in commemoration of the British Empire at the time of the South African or “Boer War” (1899-1902). It is also sometimes known in the Museum as the Transvaal Cup, as Transvaal was the part of the British region of South Africa.

On the first side, there is a depiction of Queen Victoria surrounded by British and colony flags and badges. On the second side is an image of two military figures of the Boer War, Field Marshall Lord Roberts, and Prime Minister Gascoyne- Cecil, Marquis of Salisbury. Between them is a list of several victories of the British Empire in Transvaal dating to September 1, 1900. On the final side is an image entitled, Britannia Tower of Justice Defender of the Oppressed. This depiction shows an armoured woman extending her hands before a kneeling farmer. On either side of the image are soldiers of the British Empire.

This cup was meant as a colonial commemoration of the Queen and the British Empire and would have been fairly common in households like Eldon House. This particular piece was made by the Copeland, a division of the Spode Porcelain Company.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.