The Altar Cup of Aagerup

Illustration by Richard Doyle

 

 

This evocative illustration by Doyle is based upon a traditional Danish tale that tells of the capture of a trolls' ceremonial

cup by a farmer's servant.

 

That tale is described in the following manner by A W Moore in Folklore of the Isle of Man (1891):

 

One Christmas Eve a farmer's servant in the village borrowed his master's horse and

rode down to see the "troll meeting", and while he was wondering to see how well

and gaily the little dwarfs danced, up came a troll to him and invited him to dismount

and take a share in their merriment. Another troll held his horse, while he went down

and danced with them all night long. As it was drawing near day he mounted his horse

to return home, when a maiden, who held a gold cup in her hand, invited him to

drink the stirrup cup. He took it. but having some suspicion, while he made as if he

was raising the cup to his mouth, threw the contents over his shoulder. He then

clapped spurs into his horse's sides and rode away with the cup in his hands as fast as

the horse could gallop. The trolls set off in full pursuit, and gained on him every

minute. In his distress he prayed to God, and he made a vow that, if he should be

delivered, he would bestow the cup on the Church. As he rode along by the wall of

the church yard he hastily flung the cup over it, that it at least might be secure; and

pushing on at full speed, and just as they were on the point of catching hold of the

horse, he sprang in through the farmer's gate and closed the wicket after him. Thus

was he saved, and the cup was presented to the Church.

 

 

 

The illustration

 

Full Image

Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope)

Code: RD ACA SGC
Price: US$5.00

Detail (for reference)

Reproduction on 12x18" sheet

Code: RD ACA 12x18
Price: US$60.00

Reproduction on 20x30" sheet

Code: RD ACA 20x30
Price: US$180.00

 

 

Our Greeting Cards

 

When presented on Greeting Cards, this image is prepared as a tipped-on plate - in hommage to the hand-crafted

approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is

hand-finished, with the image presented on Ivory card stock with an accompanying envelope. On the rear of each

card we also present some information about Richard Doyle and this wonderful illustration. We have left the interior

of the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

 

Our large format reproductions

 

Each of our large format reproductions are prepared with archival quality materials and processes to ensure many years

of enjoyment. In addition, our reproductions are accompanied by explanatory material relating to Richard Doyle and this

wonderful illustration.

 

How to purchase

 

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our Shopping Cart secured through PayPal. Multiple purchases will be consolidated by that feature and shipping and

handling costs to any destination in the world are accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200

worth of purchases.

 

 

 

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