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A Vienna cabinet cup and saucer, circa 1808-13
Sold for £1,187.50 inc. premium
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A Vienna cabinet cup and saucer, circa 1808-13
Footnotes
John Robison (1739-1805) a professor of philosophy at the University of Edinburgh in 1797 wrote the book "Proofs Of A Conspiracy", in this Robison printed the ceremony of initiation of the "Regent degree" in Illuminism. In his own words "a skeleton is pointed out to him [the initiate], at the feet of which are laid a crown and a sword. He is asked 'whether that is the skeleton of a king, nobleman or a beggar.' As he cannot decide, the president of the meeting says to him, 'The character of being a man is the only one that is of importance'". The phrase 'the fool, the wise man, the beggar or king' would later be adapted and used by the secret 'Skull and Bones Society', founded in 1832 at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
