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Wine glass with conical bowl and tapered stem

Key details

Object number
3.4012.2a
Date
1788
On display
Yes

Description

A wine glass, with conical bowl, tapering stem and round base. Engraved with stars and garlands beneath rim. Given by Robert Burns to Agnes McLehose, badly cracked.

These wine glasses were sent by Burns to Clarinda as an accompaniment to the "Verses to Clarinda" which begin "Fair Empress of the Poet's soul, And Queen of Poetesses, Clarinda take this little boon, This humble pair of glasses:"

Seeking to impress a lady above his station, Robert presented these wine glasses to Agnes McLehose together with verses asking her to toast ‘to thee and me, Love!’

In 1786 after the first publication of his poems Robert Burns travelled to Edinburgh where he met a society lady Mrs. Agnes McLehose ('Clarinda'). They corresponded Burns being known as 'Sylvander' to 'Clarinda'. Burns was unable to pursue the relationship further as she was married, her husband having left her to go to Jamaica.

Object information

Material

Measurements

  • Diameter: 6.5(cm)
  • Height: 13(cm)