At first thought it was a chalice but most likely a goblet. Was not sure if the first letter was an S or C, found nothing of value under S. It may be C & B over S for Charles Boyton & Son Ltd Upper Charles Street London EC. First mark registered 1904 ran from 1904-1912, second registered 1914 ran from 1919-1937
Am more inclined to now think that may be more commentrative in nature. Had reviewed other pieces by Charles Boyton online trying to find a connection, found the quality of their work very high in my estimation. The only other object that came close was a low three footed vessel with griffins.
Say the local cathedral was going through some restoration, you made a size-able donation. This small chalice/goblet was given as a token of thanks. Don't believe it was used in a service of some sort nor found on someone's table except for a cordial.
Maybe it is just me, but those angels look awkward. After doing as Warren did, reviewed available images online, I have to wonder what possessed him to add those to the lip... I could see if they were the stem, but they take on the air of artifice. Possibly it had a cover with a matching angel that would improve the look. but the man had style and taste and it is not shown in this piece.
The angels seem dressed in a robe with a headdress that looks kind of like a turban, but then again kind of not.
"He seemed to be a tall, dark man in his thirties, well-knit, active and strong, with the face of a savage king, and eyes veiled lest their gaze should destroy what they saw. The dress was not Arab; it suggested Assyria or Persia, but very vaguely."
That is a quote from Alistair Crowley's occult book, when he describes the angel Aiwass. A big part of his religion was finding a personal guardian angel who would help each person follow the inner spirit towards a future destiny. I have no interest in the occult. I just wanted to identify the "marching angels" on this cup and I came across the mad writings of Crowley. His cult was active in 1937, but went underground after the war.
Those angels just look so unique and different, I wanted to know what their purpose was. But I suppose it is far more likely that the cup was used in a traditional church service, and not an extremely small occult setting.
I still say "The dress was not Arab; it suggested Assyria or Persia, but very vaguely" is an accurate description of the way the angels are dressed on this cup.
But probably I am in error, wandering off the path of the most likely explanation.
