Celtic Silver Beaker by William Egan of Cork, 1965

William Egan was a highly regarded Irish silversmith based in Cork from the 1820's until 1986 and is particularly well known for the Irish republican silver made by the firm during the Irish Civil War (1922/23) when the Dublin Assay office was closed. The company reached a peak in production during the 1960's and this elegant silver beaker dates from that period.

The flared, cylindrical form gives the beaker a stylish appearance and the band of Celtic decoration just above the collet foot provides an Irish feel. The drinking vessel is clearly stamped with Dublin assay office marks, plus on the opposite side is a set of London import marks from the same year which allowed the beaker to be retailed in the UK.

The good gauge of silver used in production gives the beaker a nice hefty weight that provides a satisfying feel in the hand and also ensures that the condition has stayed excellent throughout, with the added bonus of neither engravings nor erasures.