Luck of Edenhall

The "Luck of Edenhall" is a glass beaker that was made in Egypt or Syria in the 13th century, and that is elegantly decorated in blue, green, red and white enamel with gilding. Glass drinking vessels very rarely survive—or remain in one family—for long enough to acquire a legendary status, so the successful passing of this vessel through many generations of the Musgrave family of Edenhall, Cumberland, is something of a miracle. Legend has it that this ancient beaker embodied the continuing prosperity of its owners. Telling the story in 1791, Sir William Musgrave of Edenhall wrote: :"Tradition our only guide here, says, that a party of Fairies were drinking and making merry round a well near the Hall, called St. Cuthbert's well; but being interrupted by the intrusion of some curious people, they were frightened, and made a hasty retreat, and left the cup in question: one of the last screaming out, If this cup should break or fall, Farewell the Luck of Edenhall."

The beaker is now known to be an exceptionally fine and pristine example of 13th century luxury glass making. It probably found its way to England in the baggage of a returning Crusader. While truth and romantic myth may have become interwoven over the centuries, it is clear that the survival of this rare and beautiful object is indeed lucky.

The glass remained intact in the possession of the Musgrave family. In 1926 the glass was loaned to the Victoria and Albert Museum, and in 1958 it was finally acquired for the nation. It remains on permanent view in the Glass gallery.

Bibliography

*cite book|author=Jackson, Anna (ed.)|title= V&A: A Hundred Highlights|publisher=V&A Publications |year=2001 ISBN 1851773657

External Links

* cite web |publisher= Victoria and Albert Museum
url= http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/glass/stories/edenhall/index.html
title= The Luck of Edenhall
work=Glass
accessdate= 2008-08-26