STEEL ENGRAVING – “CUP-TOSSING” from the original painting by Nicholas J. Crowley, engraved by C.W. Sharpe, published in 1878.  This engraving has rounded corners at the top, is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6 ¾” x 8 ¾”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

      Folklore, as it is found existing among the people of European countries, is scarcely known in America.  Belief in witches and hobgoblins is exceedingly scanty; the fairies meet with very little respect, and while occasional mention may be heard of signs and omens portentous of good or bad luck, they obtain little attention, and are uttered more in jest than earnest.  Ghosts have ceased to haunt graveyards and deserted houses, and now give seances in a comfortable way in nicely furnished saloons, with an obliging medium ready to act as master or mistress of the ceremonies; and magicians are much sought after to add to the attractiveness of church festivals, or to amuse the children at Christmas parties.  A few fortune-tellers still manage to find fools enough to support them; but even the fools are led more by curiosity to hear what the fortune-tellers have to say, than by belief in their predictions.  Among the peasantry of Europe, however, such things are treated with more respect, and those who pretended to have power over good and evil spirits, or to be able to foretell the future, meet with reverential consideration.

    One of the many methods of divination is that of cup-tossing, as shown in Mr. Crowley’s picture.  A cup, out of which tea has been drank, is whirled rapidly around, so that the grounds at the bottom may adhere to the sides, and from the forms assumed by the scraps of stalk and leaves, the future welfare of the enquirer may be read by experienced eyes.  As represented in the picture, this ceremony has just been gone through, and the wise-woman, - whose fantastic dress proclaims her to be a gipsy, - is telling her listener the signs contained in the cup, and expounding their meaning.  The girl evidently has the most profound faith in the divination, and is painfully eager to learn whether her fate will coincide with her desires.  In her eagerness she has overturned the salt, an ill omen, which will weigh heavily upon her mind when the accident is discovered.  The faces of both women express the most intense earnestness, and that of the girl wears also a look of apprehension, as if the promise of the future was anything but good.  Both the heads are exceedingly well painted, and to this the picture owes its chief excellence.  It was exhibited at the British Institution in 1843.

      Nicholas J. Crowley was born in Dublin about the beginning of the present century, and had won considerable reputation in the country of his birth before going to London, where he ultimately settled.  His first picture was contributed to the London Academy in 1835, in which year also he was elected a member of the Royal Hibernia Academy.  He afterwards exhibited many pictures in London, most of them portrait groups, in which branch of art he became chiefly esteemed.  He died in 1857.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, etchings, engravings, and lithographs are printing processes, which use steel, copper, stone or wood blocks or plates to produce a picture on paper.

Most antique prints and engravings, which are seen on the internet today, are bookplates.  Because they are pages from a book, there are multiple copies in existence.  This does not, however, mean that they are "reproductions" that have been printed recently.  Because they were, at some point, part of books, some have been preserved in excellent condition, while others show signs of age, as yellow spots or darkness on the edge of the page from being handled.

Engravings, and lithographs are high quality pieces of art, as it took a highly trained artist many hours of work to produce one.  Although there may be multiple copies still in existence, the date of the item should be stated, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.

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