English, 17th/ 18th century and later

the wood inscribed: Ex dono Robert Mynors Arm... [The Gift of Robert Mynors...], the silver mounts inscribed: QUID NON EBRIETAS DESIGNAT? OPERTA LECLUDIT; * SPES JUBET ESSE RATAS; IN PROELIA TURDIT INERTEM; 8 SOLLICITIS ANIMIS ONNUS EXIMIT: ADDOCET ARTES; * FECUNDI CALICES QUEM NON FECERE DISERTUM? *CONTRACTA QUEM NON IN PAUPERTATE SOLUTUM?; the interior of the bowl with mount in the form of a Tudor Rose; the foot inscribed to the underside with the arms of King James I of England and VI of Scotland; with an old paper label inscribed in ink: Lord Gort; and numbered: 341 in white paint

Possibly Robert Mynors (1739-1806), Weatheroak Hall, Worcestershire, England;
certainly Standish Robert Gage Prendergast Vereker, 7th Viscount Gort (1888-1975), Bunratty Castle, County Clare, Ireland

Overall, the condition of the bowl is good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The silver mounts are later, and probably date to the nineteenth or early 20th century. There are a few small wood plugs in the sides of the bowl. There is a very minor stable splitting, consistent with the material, including to the foot. There is also minor stable splitting to the interior of the lid and the bowl, which is slightly visible on the outside. The foot, lid and knop are worked separately. The knop may have been reattached. There is minor oxidisation to the silver mounts, consistent with the material. There are a few small splashes of varnish to the interior of the bowl and a few splashes of paint to the top of the lid. The inscription around the bowl has faded.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

By tradition this remarkable Wassail Bowl is said to be the largest in the world. It is certainly one of the larger sized examples known to exist, though Pinto mentions another formerly in the Fripp collection with a height of 30in. The word Wassail means 'Good health' and is an expression of well wishing equivalent to the word 'cheers', offered in the context of convivial drinking. Its earliest recorded use was at a banquet in honour of the legendary 5th-century British King Vortigern at which, according to Pinto, Prince Hengist's daughter Rowena is said to have '...come unto the king's presence with a cup of gold filled with wine in her hand, and making a low reverence unto the king said "WAES HAEL HLAFORD CYNING" [Be of health Lord King]' (op. cit., p. 48). Ritual Wassailing became commonplace in England through to the 19th century and was frequently associated with Christmas, though it is traditionally thought to have been associated with blessing orchards. Wassail bowls would be filled with warmed ale, stirred with nutmeg, ginger, sugar, cloves, cardamoms and roasted apples. The present example follows the typical Wassail Bowl form, being thimble shaped with a foot and lid with central knop. This shape is most closely associated with the 17th century, circa 1640-1660, providing a probable date for the wood bowl itself. Pinto notes that metal mounts are rare, though almost always later, as in the case of the present example. The inscription is very similar to that found on a 17th-century example published by Pinto which is inscribed 'Ye Gifte of Richard Rogers to Hys olde friends who meet in ye Toye room' (op. cit., p. 51; the Toye was a 17th-century inn opposite Hampton Court). Robert Mynors may be identified as the wealthy 18th-century midlands surgeon. His candidacy as a Wassailing enthusiast is strengthened by the cause of his death in 1806, from 'a short but violent attack of gout' (Birmingham Commercial Herald, 6 October 1806).

RELATED LITERATURE
E. H. Pinto, Treen and other wooden bygones: An encyclopaedia and social history, London, 1969