Luck of Edenhall facts for kids
The "Luck of Edenhall" is a very old and beautiful glass cup. It was made around the middle of the 14th century in either Syria or Egypt. This special cup is decorated with fancy patterns called arabesques using blue, green, red, and white enamel, and also has shiny gold parts. Today, you can see it at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The cup is about 15.8 cm tall and 11.1 cm wide at the top.
It arrived in Europe by the 15th century. To keep it safe, it was given a strong, decorated case made of tough leather. This case even has the Christian symbol "IHS" on it. This protective case likely helped the cup survive for hundreds of years!
What is the Luck of Edenhall?
This glass cup is a fantastic example of fancy Islamic glass from the 1300s. It is very rare because glass drinking cups usually do not last this long. Objects like this, owned by families in Northern England, were sometimes called "lucks." The "Luck of Edenhall" was first written about in 1677 in the will of Sir Philip Musgrave.
The Ancient Legend of the Fairies
It is very unusual for a glass cup to stay in one family for so many generations and become famous. The "Luck of Edenhall" was passed down through the Musgrave family who lived in Edenhall, Cumberland. People believed that as long as this cup was safe, the family would continue to be lucky and successful.
In 1791, a story about the cup was shared in The Gentleman's Magazine. Reverend William Mounsey told a popular legend:
- A group of fairies were having a party and drinking around a well near Eden Hall. This well was called St. Cuthbert's Well.
- Some curious people came by and disturbed the fairies.
- The fairies got scared and quickly left, but they forgot the cup.
- As one of the last fairies flew away, it supposedly shouted:
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- "If this cup should break or fall
- Farewell the Luck of Edenhall!"
Where is the Luck of Edenhall Now?
The glass cup stayed safe with the Musgrave family for many years. In 1926, they loaned it to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Then, in 1958, the museum officially bought it for the country. You can still see it on display in the Medieval & Renaissance galleries at the museum. The old Eden Hall building, where the Musgrave family lived, was torn down in 1934.
