Cork republican silver refers to silverware produced in the Irish city of Cork during the Irish Civil War.[1][2] Only around 60-80 pieces are known to survive.[1]
During the civil war, in the summer of 1922, Cork was for a time held by anti-Treaty forces, until it was retaken by the pro-Treaty National Army.
Barry M. Egan, managing director of the family firm of silversmiths, William Egan & Sons,[2] and unable to send silver to Dublin for hallmarking, devised his own hallmark. This hallmark depicted a two-masted, left-facing, ship with a single-towered castle to either side of it.[2][1][3] These were struck, using separate dies for the ship and the castle, to the right of the maker's mark, "WE".[2] Once silver could again be sent to Dublin, the dies were destroyed.[2]
Five pieces are displayed in Cork Public Museum.
References
edit- ^ a b c "The Royal William Yard 2". Antiques Roadshow. Series 38. 19 October 2015. BBC. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e O'Tuama, Aodh (1984). "Cork republican silver" (PDF). Irish Arts Review. pp. 52–53. Retrieved 18 October 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Moylan, Eileen (13 June 2011). "Cork Silver Part 2: Republican Silver". Retrieved 18 October 2015.