A Royal Gift of William III
A William III porringer & cover
The arms of those of Manley and of Gorse impaling Manley.
Also, with the Royal coat-of-arms of William III.
The inscription reads: ‘Ex dono Gulielmi tertii, Mag: Brit: Franc: et Hib. regis sponsoris filæ
Dorotheæ Manly An. Dom: 1690’ which translates ‘From the gift of William III, Mag: Brit: Franc:
et Hib. king’s sponsor of the daughter of Dorothea Manly An. Dom 1690’
The cup embossed and chased with alternate palm and acanthus, cast foliate scroll handles,
bud finial
Provenance:
S.J. Phillips 1975
Sotheby’s London 2015
This piece has traditionally been called “The Boyne Cup,” as the piece is said to have been a
christening gift from William III to his Godchild Dorothea Manley who was born on the battle of
the Boyne, 1st July 1690. Her father Isaac Manley was the King’s Postmaster General during
the campaign in Ireland.
Dorothy Manley was one of the children of Isaac Manley (1655-1735) and his wife, Mary
Newland (1659 -). She married around 1720 to William Gore by whom she had at least two
children: Colonel John Gore (1724-1794), Lieutenant Governor of the Tower of London in 1776,
and Ralph Gore (-1778). Her grandchildren included Brigadier General Arthur Gore
(1771-1814), who was killed in action at Bergen-op-Zoom, Netherlands, and is commemorated
by a monument in St.Paul’s Cathedral, London; and Admiral Sir John Gore (1772-1835), whose
daughter Anne Frances (1817-1877) became the second wife of Richard, 1st Earl Howe
(1797-1870). Among Dorothy Gore’s many other descendants were members of the
Ormsby-Gore family.
The cup is engraved with the coat-of-arms of Manley in a lozenge for Dorothy Manley and
scrolling foliate cartouche on body and cover. The cover aso with the family coat-of-arms for the
marriage of Dorothy Manley and William Gore. The other side of the cup with the royal arms as
borne by King William III (1650-1702).
H 29 cm Diam 11.5 cm
Weight 3,160g 101 oz dwt
P O A
