1833 San Antonio,Texas Scrimshaw Childs Christening Cup Caceres Family

Collectibles : Folk Art

 

One of the finest pieces of early Texas Folk Art I have ever come across in my lifetime. This is a Scrimshaw Child's Christening Cup from the House of Caceres at 56 Santiago Street in San Antonio,Texas. The cup which was carved from the end of a powder horn, measures 4 1/2 inches tall. It was found here recently in a mountain home in western North Carolina where it remained with the same family for over a century.

The story from the family was that cup was brought home by a soldier from North Carolina who fought in the Texas-Mexican border Wars during that time. Giving the families reputation I firmly believe this was the case.

The cup is dated December 28th 1833 and features a fabulous early American Military Eagle. The artist also shows the farm in which the Caceres live in with their Barn,Bridges and the roads that clearly show have wooden planks as their surface.

My favorite carving shows the Pide Piper leading the various Farm Animals into the Barn.

Caceres was the name of a Jewish family, members of which lived in Portugal, the Netherlands, England, Mexico, Suriname, the West Indies, and the United States mainly in Texas. They came, probably, from the city of Caceres in Spain.

The family of Caceres still resides prominently in Texas today. And is associated with Musical Royalty in the Lone Star State. Without question an important piece of early American & Texas history.

Thank you for your interest and consideration.

Item ID: 634