A 200-year-old mug depicting the infamous Radlett Murder was sold for £7,500 at an auction last month.
The murder of William Weare by John Thurtell in 1823 gained so much traction that it has been invoked as the first ‘trial by newspaper’ in British history. Thurtell, who was the son of the Mayor of Norwich, was hanged in Hertford the following year.
The porcelain mug was likely made ahead of a travelling fair at the time when the Radlett Murder gripped the nation. Specially made to commemorate the crime, this mug is perhaps best understood as an early form of merchandise.
Owned by a Devon-based collector for many years, the mug was initially listed by auctioneers Chilcotts for £500. However, the Daily Mail reported that two rival bidders went to loggerheads over the quirky item, until a final price of £7,500 was reached.
According to the Daily Mail, auctioneer Liz Chilcott said: “This mug is a bit grisly as it commemorates a cold-blooded murder.
“In the early 19th century, objects that marked important social events were very popular and this case was very famous, not least because the murderer was the son of the Mayor of Norwich and the victim was a solicitor.”
Photo Credit: Chilcotts Auctioneers via Radlett & District Museum
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