Lot 119

The canister presents very well, in excellent condition with little if any appreciable wear and nothing we take to be repairs.

There are parallel scrapes across the underside of the canister which we assume were caused by somebody scraping off a sample to test the silver fineness. These scrapes run across the duty mark but do not appreciably affect it (its appearance is consistent with typical light wear on a late eighteenth century mark). It appears the underside of the leaf base of the finial may have been similarly scraped.

We are uncertain as to whether the pineapple finial and its (separate) pointed leaf base are original. These are identical (or near-identical) with those on other canisters by Daniell and other contemporary makers, and consistent with the description given in H.R. Jessop's 1967 selling description, but the threaded shaft to the pineapple appears modern. No assay marks are apparent on either the pineapple or its leaf base, although they are testing electronically as being of sterling standard. The winged nut securing the finial is consistent with being original to the box, being hand worked and struck with a standard mark.

The lock appears original; no key for this is present.



The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek further information or request additional images during our pre-sale period where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice. Please note condition reports can be amended during the pre-sale period, so we strongly suggest any interested bidders check the published condition report available on the website before the auction commences. Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.

H.R. Jessop Ltd, London, from whom purchased by the vendor's father in 1967 (apparently via Davidson's, Newcastle upon Tyne, acting as intermediary)

James Cook's three voyages of discovery in the Pacific and south Atlantic oceans between 1768 and 1779, all detailed in published accounts written by himself, attracted much fascinated attention in English society and beyond. So it was with much shock and sadness that the report of Cook's violent death on a Hawaiian beach in early 1789, which reached London nearly a year earlier, was received. King George III, reportedly moved to tears by the news, immediately granted Cook's widow Elizabeth a substantial pension for life and tributes and letters of condolence poured from the great and good across Britain and Europe.

In 1785, Elizabeth, wishing to have an honour for her husband that could be perpetuated by his family, applied for a grant of a coat of arms prompted by 'her Anxiety to preserve on record in the College of Arms the Memory of her late dear Husband, the ablest and most renowned Navigator which this or any other Country has produced'. It is mark of George III's respect for Cook that he approved this exceptional grant – apparently, still the only posthumous grant of arms ever made by the College of Arms.

In seeking the grant, Elizabeth requested 'such Armorial Ensigns as may allude to [Cook's] distinguished Character to be borne by his Descendants and placed on any Monument or otherwise to his Memory'. The Letters Patent granting the arms on 3 September, 1785, specify that the crest of the coat of arms be 'an Arm embowed, vested in the Uniform of a Captain of the Royal Navy, in the Hand the Union Jack on a staff' with the motto 'Circa orbem' ('Round the world').

Sadly for Elizabeth there was little opportunity for her family to use the bearings as she hoped, with all six of the Cooks' children dying prematurely, the last in 1794, leaving no other descendants. Consequently, the present lot is one of very few known objects closely associated with the Cooks that bear his arms. The National Library of Australia holds a silver salver assayed in 1764 and believed to have been used by the Cooks together in their household and then later engraved with his full coat of arms shortly after these were granted. A pair of silver candlesticks in the National Maritime Museum, London, assayed in 1784 and acquired by Elizabeth, is, like the present lot, engraved with Cook's crest and motto 'Circa orbem'.

Made by Thomas Daniell and assayed in London in 1786 a year or so after the grant of Cook's arms, this canister was presumably acquired by Elizabeth at this time and then promptly and proudly engraved with the then newly-granted crest in honour of her much-loved husband.