the drake cup

The Drake Cup was allegedly awarded to English Admiral, explorer, and slave trader Sir Francis Drake in 1579 by Queen Elizabeth I after he returned in his vessel the Golden Hind following his circumnavigation of the globe. It symbolises British hegemony and affluence in an epoch titled ‘The Golden Age’ of extensive progress and patriotism.

During Britain’s period of colonisation and expansion, new resources including metals, sugar, and tobacco were imported to Britain by traders, initiating a period of prosperity. This eponymous, polished gold trophy demonstrates the growth in national prosperity and how much of it was attributed to the privateer’s transatlantic trade voyages.

The intricate patterns and delicate features flaunt British industrial development with new mechanical processes and rising iron and copper production levels. This epoch of protoindustrialization followed by industrial revolution led to metal casting. The complexity of certain features combined with an absence of visible connection points indicates this cup was probably casted. This trophy therefore epitomises industrial progression in 16th Century Britain.

The level of craft elegance and precision shows a pride in creation that reflects national respect for Drake and the prosperity he helped initiate in Britain. This trophy would have been produced by Britain’s most talented metal casters employed by the Queen, demonstrating the pinnacle of British industrial capabilities. Designed to resonate with the people, it inspires awe and hope for Britain’s future by exhibiting growth in industry and opulence. This generated an atmosphere of national jingoism that increased public support for colonisation.

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The handing over of the terrestrial globe cup to Drake emblematises his role in British imperial dominance. The globe engravings represent the world as it was understood by 16th Century European scientists. The land is golf-leaf covered and the sea is swarmed by dangerous creatures. This exhibits the national heroization of Drake to mask the barbaric reality of slave treatment. Contemporary extravagance with fashion and materials became methods for the British people to distance themselves from the true inhumanity behind Britain’s prosperity. For some, wealth became a reason to support it.

However, the rich gold and silver aesthetic combined with the fine craftmanship generates an illusion of prosperity for all. In reality, Britain still faced class divisions. This metaphor for affluence only demonstrated the riches of the nobility and gentry.

The cup’s armillary sphere also demonstrates the harnessing of religion to justify colonial expansion. An armillary sphere models the movements and relative geometry of the heavens, reflecting how imperialism was publicised as God’s will. The hierarchical concept of the ‘Great Chain of Being’ meant that the monarch was seen as having the right to rule by God’s grace.

The Drake Cup was produced during Britain’s avaricious era where expansion and ascendency were primary concerns. It is therefore a token of contemporary British culture and the extravagant design that accompanied national prosperity. This cup would have held exceptional value during the 16th Century, and remains incredibly valuable now that its history is known today.