A SILVER-GILT MEMBERSHIP MEDAL FOR THE BEGGAR'S BENISON CLUB
ANSTRUTHER, LATE 18TH CENTURY
£756
Scottish Works of Art & Whisky
Auction: Lots 1 - 412 | 20 August 2024 at 10am
Description
Of oval form, the obverse with the nude figures of Adam and Eve standing with their hands joined, with a lion at Adam's feet, beneath the inscription 'BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY', the reverse with the nude figure of Venus reclining before a tree, Cupid at her side and the nude figure of Adonis with a spear standing before them, his dog seated to the left, all beneath the inscription 'LOSE NO OPPORTUNITY'
Dimensions
4.3cm high (including suspension loop)
Footnote
This medal was made for members of 'The Most Ancient and Most Puissant Order of the Beggar's Benison and Merryland'. The archive and main collection of which is now held at St.Andrews University as it was formed in 1732 and founded in 1739 in Anstruther, near St. Andrews in Scotland.
With only male members, the club focused on erotica and in particular 'the convivial celebration of male sexuality' although some women were invited as ‘posture girls’ to be ogled'. The club met twice a year on Candlemas and St. Andrew's Day where members dined in their green silk sashes and wore their medals. It is suggested that there were elite members of society admitted to the club, on the 29th March 2011, Bonhams, London, New Bond Street offered lot 402, which included a diploma, thought to be a double entendre travesty of a Ship's Licence, was presented to the Prince Regent just ten days before attaining his twenty-first birthday which has long been presumed as his membership.
‘By the supereminently Beneficient and superlatively Benevolent Sir James Lumsdaine of Innergellie Sovereign of the most Ancient and most Puisant Order of the Beggars Benison and Merryland, in the Twelfth Year of His Guardianship [gap for insertion] and in that of the Order 5783’…
'…We Do hereby create, admit and receive His Royal Highness a Knight Companion of the most Ancient and most puisant Order of the Beggars Bennison and Merryland, with our full powers and priviledges of Ingress, Egress, and Regress from and to, and to and from all the Harbours, Creeks, Havens and Commodious Inlets upon the Coasts of Our said extensive Territories at His Royal Highness's pleasure and that without payment of Toll Customes or any other Taxes or Impositions whatever'
The medallions come in three metals, silver, silver-gilt and one example recorded in gold, which has also been conjectured to have been presented to the Prince Regent with the Diploma of membership.
The club was eventually dissolved in 1836.
Literature: David Stevenson, Beggar's Benison, 2001