Hi-ho silver lining for those who know their hallmarks

An extremely rare and early Cork silver mug which turned up in a job lot at a New York auction house in December was bought for $6,500 by the Irish silver dealer William Crofton of L and W Duvallier, now based at the London Silver Vaults on Chancery Lane.

It is by Charles Begheagle, whose work represents some of the earliest examples of Cork silver known to have survived. The dealer would have been prepared to pay a lot more for the piece.

Charles Begheagle was a Huguenot who fled 17th century persecution to Cork following the Edict of Nantes. He is believed to have been encouraged to settle here by fellow Huguenot, Robert Goble.