Lot 296. The Seaforth Cup. A German silver-gilt bunch of grapes cup and cover, Esaias zur Linden, Nuremberg, 1609-29, 27cm, 10 1/2 in high, 306gr, 9oz 16dwt. Estimate 1,500 — 2,000 £GB. Lot sold 6,875£GB. Photo: Sotheby's.

domed foot initialled in the 17th century JSF below earl’s coronet for Jean Seaforth Forbes, countess of Mar, tree cutter and woodman stem, sheet scrollwork finial, marked on body and foot.

Note: An undated family letter with this cup states: 'This chalice or cup belonged to the Countess of Seaforth whose coronet and cypher are on the base. Her daughter Lady Mary Mackenzie married John, Earl of Mar whose daughter Lady Sophia Erskine or Areskine married Alexander, 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, through whom it came to their grandson, The Hon. John Forbes Master of Pitsligo [1723-1781], who gave it to me. (Sir William Forbes So Father of Sir John Fobes and great great grandfather of Charles John Robert, Lord Clinton' 

The family letter states that an early owner was Lady Sophia Erskine who married (1676) Alexander 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo and that the initials on the cup are those of her grandmother the Countess of Seaforth, who was born a Forbes. However Sophia’s grandmother was called Barbara and as the initials on the cup do not include the letter B, an ascription to her seems unlikely.  On the other hand the letter J on the cup coincides with Lady Sophia’s mother, Jean (died after 1674). The family letter seemingly inaccurate in some detail does state correctly that Lady Sophia’s father, Jean's husband,  was  John 4th Earl of Mar (died 1668) which would make sense of the Earl's coronet above the initials.

Sotheby's. Two Great Scottish Collections: Property from the Forbeses of Pitsligo and the Marquesses of Lothian, London, 28 Mar 2017