1862 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
This cup and cover is part of a group of silver called "The Poetry of Great Britain", designed and modelled by Signor Monti and executed by Mr. C. F. Hancock in 1862 for the International Exhibition. As quoted in the "Illustrated London News": 'The name of Mr. Hancock as an enterprising and discriminating employer of the best artistic talent obtainable has long been favourably known to us; but we think he has seldom been more fortunate than in obtaining the services of Signor Monti in designing and modelling these important works, on which are delineated scenes from some of the greatest of the English poets in a manner not unworthy of the source which inspired them. The loving cup of Milton is of the same design as that of Byron, surmounted by a figure of the nymph Egeria. On the stem are heads of Samson, Delilah, and Lycidas... The character of Monti's design is massive and agreeable, whilst the artistic manner in which his happy renderings of the poets' creations have been carried out reflect much credit on the working artists in Mr. Hancock's employ'.

THE SILVERSMITH
Charles Frederick Hancock (British, 1807-1891), manufacturing retail silversmith and jeweller of Bruton Street and Bond Street in London, was known for the 'manufacture of plate and jewellery of a superior class, and is extensively patronised by the nobility and gentry, being noted for the taste and quality of its productions. Artists of celebrity are engaged as modellers of groups and designs for surtouts de table and the dressoir, presentation pieces, racing prizes, &c. Among the modellers may be noted especially H. H. Armstead R.A.; C. B. Birch A. R. A.; Signor Raffaele Monti; Eugene Laury and Marshall Wood' (W. Chaffers, Gilda Aurifabrorum a history of English goldsmiths and plateworkers, 1853, p.97). Hancock was shortly partner at Hunt & Roskell, but quickly left to set up on his own. His work was rapidly recognised for its craftsmanship so that by August 1849, only eight months after establishing his own business, he was awarded the Royal Warrant of appointment from Queen Victoria and was blessed with patronage from gentry, celebrities and the nobility of Europe.

THE DESIGNER
This cup was designed and modelled by Raffaele Monti (1818-1871) a sculptor, author and poet of Swiss origin. Trained by his father Gaetano Monti (1776–1847) of Ravenna, he moved to London in 1846. One of his first work is a marble sculpture of a Veiled Vestal Virgin for the Duke of Devonshire displayed at Chiswick House. Monti went on to exhibit at the Royal Academy and presented several sculptures at the Great Exhibition of 1851 including 'A Circassian Slave in the Market Place at Constantinople'. In 1862 at the London International Exhibition, Monti exhibited his monumental marble sculpture 'The Sleep of Sorrow and the Dream of Joy: an Allegory of the Italian Risorgimento' as well as The Poetry of Great Britain produced by C. F. Hancock including the Milton Cup.
Monti subsequently went to design and model for goldsmiths such as Hancock's such pieces as The Goodwood Cup (1866); The Beaufort Cup for Bath Races (1867); The Marquis of Exeter's Cup for the Royal Victoria Yacht Club (1867); The Stockbridge Race Cup (1868); The Doncaster Cup (1868); The Brighton Cup (1869) and The Royal Hunt Cup for Ascot Horse Races (1874).