Very rare Chelsea Hospital quart pewter mug made by Carpenter & Hamberger, London c1794-1806 their mark inside the base. The plain tapered body stamped and engraved to the front showing it is a piece from one of the wards at the Royal Hospital at Chelsea. Large dies 3 over 2 above a crown over GR in mirror image above 3W engraved and cross hatched. A City of Westminster '1826' (Imperial) verification mark below the rim (which should not have been used as the mug is under capacity). The solid cast strap handle shows it may have been intended for use on a tankard as the usual slot for the hinge was filled in at the time of manufacture (we know this as there is at least one other mug like this from the Royal Hospital). There are small escutcheon discs at the upper and lower attachment point. Illustrated and discussed 'A Chelsea Pensioner' in the Journal of the Pewter Society Autumn 1977. Capacity is a Winchester quart = 38 fl oz. 6½" tall, with 4½" base diameter. 969g weight. Provenance: from the collection of the late Stanley Shemmel (Bonhams Lot 83 26.10.2006). REF: C2567.
