An Indian colonial silver Beefsteak Club mug,

An Indian colonial silver Beefsteak Club mug,
probably by Mair and Robertson, Calcutta circa 1800,
tapering circular form, scroll handle, applied girdle, engraved 'Beef and Liberty', and engraved with a crest and motto for Marjoribanks, above an engraved a griddle, height 10.3cm, approx. weight 13oz.

Provenance: A Private Collection.
Purchased from Sotheby's, New York, 20 May 2004, lot 85.

The Beefsteak Club has its origins in the 18th century, and there were several clubs of the same name in which male diners celebrated the beefsteak as a symbol of liberty and prosperity. The forerunner of the present club was founded in 1735, and members wore a uniform of blue coats and buff waistcoats, with buttons bearing the insignia of a gridiron and the motto 'Beef and Liberty'. Situated in Irving Street, London, the club consists of a single dining room above a shop, with a central table laid with silver, at which members are served lunch and dinner, which originally consisted a beefsteak, followed by toasted cheese and Port. Membership is a mixture of politicians, philosophers, writers, journalists, actors and academics, and restricted to around 300.