Rare cup returns to Hull thirty years after it was stolen

3 March 2016....... Hull Museums collections assistant Jocelyn Anderson-Wood with the silver Barachin cup stolen from Wilberforce House Museum, Hull.

The engraved cup, created by Hull silversmith Abraham Barachin in 1725, was purchased by Hull Museums in 1969 with the help of a grant from the Art Fund. It was on display in the city’s Wilberforce House, where it was stolen in 1986.

To this day the culprits have not been identified.

Purchased by a collector in July 2015, they researched the provenance of the bowl and found that it matched the description of the one stolen in 1986.

The collector, who wishes to remain anonymous, took it to an ‘opinions day’ at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) where an expert confirmed that it was the stolen object.

The collector kindly offered the bowl back to Hull Museums free of charge, who gratefully accepted the offer.

Councillor Terry Geraghty, Hull City Council Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure and Chair of Hull Culture and Leisure Limited, said: “We are very grateful to the purchaser for making us aware and working with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and our staff to reunite us with the cup.

“We are looking forward to having this piece returned and back in its rightful home for visitors to view and admire.”

Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund, said: “How wonderful that the Barachin cup, missing for nearly 30 years, is now returned to its rightful home.”