It depicts the terrestrial globe, engraved with a map of the world; the land is in gilt, the seas with its sailing vessels, whales and dolphins in silver and the names of the continents, islands and seas are engraved in Latin. The cover is surmounted by a vase on which there is a skeleton celestial globe. By tradition, this magnificent cup was given to Drake by Queen Elisabeth I in 1579 upon his return from circumnavigating the Globe in the Golden Hind. But there is another tradition claiming that it was Drake who gave it to the Queen in 1582.

Provenance

Queen Elizabeth; Sir Francis Drake; George Lockett.