THE "BEGGAR'S BENISON"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3106, 9 June 1917, Page 11

THE "BEGGAR'S BENISON"

■- n —- , A BOWL WITH A ROMANTIC HISTORY. There is in the possession of Mr. J. H. Seager,. of Christchurch (says a contributor to tbo "Sun"), a, toddy bowl which, has had a most unusual experience, one liordoring upon tho romantic, and which is of valuo and interest both to the antiquary and to tho collector. Tho bowl is a ton-inch one, hard paste porcelain of Oriental manufacture, the date being the first half of the eighteenth century, or about tbo year 1733. The bowl ia decorated in colours lmrtlj- painted and partly enamelled, and is one example of tho largo quantity of porcelain of the period mentioned (before tho manufacture of porcelain in Great. Britain had commenced), made in China to the ordor of some society, company, or' person of note, whose custom it was to send with the ordor drawings of the design . with which the porcelain was to be decorated. Tho bowl lias the typical Oriental diapered, border along tho top of the inside, and in two places on the outside in European style a bouquet of flowers tied at tho' stems with a 'truo lovers' knot. On the inside bottom of the bowl, and twice on fhb outside alternativoly with tho floral bouquets just montioned, appear the distinctive decoration connecting tho bowl with its original owner, and distingusling tho bowl actually, and in point of interest, from all othors. The design of this latter decoration is of a most peculiar , and extraordinary charactor, consisting in part of a double circle about threo inches in diameter, with a true lovers' knot on top of. tho circle, and with the words, "The Beggar's Bcnison" painted in enamel letters between tho lines of the circle. In the centre of the circle appears an anchor, and in connection therewith the particular device or emblem of the society for whioh the bowl was made. The "Beggar's Benison" Society was a. society of an erotic and convivial nature, founded in the year 1732, and was composed of tho nobility and gentry of Anstrulhor (Scotland) and adjacent districts. The society was very occlusive and select, the entrance fee being a very large sum. Georgo IV while Princo Eegont was elected an hon. member of the society. Archibald Campbell, in his published work, "Notes by the Way: A Descriptive Account of Fife and ross,"'Bays?"James V, who took a. peculiar delight in travelling about under various guises, is said to have visited Anstrnther in one of his rambles, and having met with a ludicrous adventure in the neighbourhood, a society was many years afterwards formed upon the incident, under the title of "Sovereign and Knights of the Beggar's Benison. Tho convivial habits of tho boaux esprits of Anstnitber obtained at ono lime no small amount of