1985.R.308, Mug, England, c. 1750-1775

Using fine ribbons of glass on the lip and flutes around the waist is characteristic of English mugs made in the last half of the 19th century. This particular example is noteworthy because it is engraved with the initials IM and contains a Royal Maundy souvenir coin. The distribution of the Royal Maundy occurs annually on Maundy Thursday, normally in Westminster Abbey in even-numbered years, and elsewhere in odd-numbered years. Bags of money are given to as many poor men and women as there are years in the sovereign's age. 

The coin in the base of this mug is dated 1687. Contemporary as well as old Maundy coins were inserted into glass objects and sold to the public as souvenirs of the celebration. 

Dallas Museum of Art, Decorative Arts Highlights from the Wendy and Emery Reves Collection (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 1995), 89.

Until 1985: Emery Reves (1904-1983) and Wendy Reves (1916-2007) (owned jointly), La Pausa, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France [1]

From 1985: Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection, gift of Wendy Reves (1916-2007) [1]

[1] According to: Olivier Meslay and Martha MacLeod, From Chanel to Reves (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 2015), 4-5.

Apply to objects where number equals 1985.R.308