French Revolutionary close-plated tankard, dated 1793
$980.00 AUD
Rare French close-plated tankard, of slightly tapered straight-sided form with rings at base and flared lip, the handle with teardrop to lower terminal, the front engraved with a Revolutionary symbol of cannon, flags & ramrod incorporating a laurel wreath, titled ‘a ca ira’ above ‘1793’, the base turned wood.
Circa 1793
13.5cm high, base 9cm
Condition: Some minor wear to silver, including near cannon nozzle; dent to handle; tears to lower underside silver.
The date 1793 is significant for the French Revolution, being the date the unspeakable happened: Louis XVI was beheaded and the radical revolutionaries took full control of France, while also declaring war on almost every other European nation.
‘A ca ira’ is a verse from a popular French song which became the informal theme-song of the French Revolution.’A ca ira’ – ‘It’ll be fine’ is the main chorus, repeated after every verse: the verses were elaborated on and changed as the revolution progressed; an earlier version has
“An armed people will always take care of themselves.
We’ll know right from wrong,
The citizen will support the Good.Ah ! It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine
When the aristocrat shall protest,
The good citizen will laugh in his face,
Without troubling his soul,
And will always be the strongerAh! It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine…”
By the end of the revolution, as the blood of the nobles flowed, the words used were:
”aristocrats to the lamp-post
Ah! It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine
the aristocrats, we’ll hang them!If we don’t hang them
We’ll break them
If we don’t break them
We’ll burn them…..We shall have no more nobles nor priests
Ah! It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine
Equality will reign everywhere
The Austrian slave shall follow him
Ah! It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine
And their infernal clique
Shall go to hell
Ah! It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine, It’ll be fine….”
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