TWO ‘exceptionally rare’ goblets made by a famous glass enameller - who also has work on display in a Whitehaven museum - are to go under the hammer.

The George III goblet, an enamelled Royal armorial goblet by William Beilby, circa 1762-63, will go to auction with a starting price of £80,000.

‘The Providence’, an enamelled colour twist wine glass dated 1767, made by Beilby is also up for grabs with a starting price of £16,000. The glass is one of only two recorded, with the other sold in 2011.

Two other Beilby enamelled objects painted with ships are known, including The Margaret and Winneford Punchbowl in the Laing Art Gallery, and the so-called Whitehaven Goblet which also bears the Royal Arms of George III. 

The extremely rare item which is on display in The Beacon museum, has a dark link to the business of trading slaves and a connection to the founding father of the United States Navy, John Paul Jones.

A fine example of early enamelled glass, it was made and signed by William Beilby of Newcastle - a famous glass enameller.

The goblet carries a hand painting of a sailing ship and the words ‘Success to the African Trade of Whitehaven’. It had been made to commemorate the 1763 launch of the slave ship 'King George'. 

It notoriously survived a famous museum theft in 1994 following a smash and grab raid at the museum's temporary home in Whitehaven Civic Hall. It was eventually handed back.

‘The Providence’ wine glass and The George III goblet will go under the hammer at Montpelier Street in Knightsbridge, London, at 2pm on November 15.