Gold freedom box

Gold freedom box presented by the City of Cork on 16 September 1782 to Admiral Lord George Brydges Rodney 1719 -92).

Oval gold box with a flat lid, hinged across the top and engraved with the arms of the City of Cork with two seated male supporters, inscribed 'CORK ARMS' and the motto 'STATIO BENE FIDA CARINIS' (a safe harbour for ships). Below the arms is a floral spray, which is repeated around the edge of the box.

The Cork arms are: 'or, on waves of the sea a ship of three masts in full sail proper between two towers gules upon rocks also proper, each tower surmounted by a flag argent charged with a saltire of the same'. The arms are said to represent the towers which operated the medieval portcullis that allowed ships to enter the interior dock of the walled town.

The box still contains the Freedom document on a vellum strip sealed with red wax. Lord Rodney was admitted as a Freeman of the City of Cork on 16 September, following the Battle of the Saints on 12 April, and was enrolled on 20 November 1782.

Object Details

ID: PLT0744
Collection: Decorative art
Type: Freedom box
Display location: Display - Atlantic Gallery
Creator: Reynolds, William
Events: American War of Independence: Battle of the Saints, 1782
Date made: 1782
Exhibition: The Atlantic: Slavery, Trade, Empire; War and Conflict
People: City of Cork; Rodney, George Brydges
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 25 x 86 x 60 mm