Family Emblem

The lozenge-shaped shields on the cup are the emblems of the Ponsonby (fig. 12) and Butler (fig. 13) families, which were both aristocratic families. The ancestors of Sarah Ponsonby migrated and settled in Ponsonby, a parish in Cumberland from whence the family derived its name. Sarah’s great-grandfather, William Ponsonby, was a member of the Irish Whigs, who laid the foundation for the family's political and social power in Ireland. The surname of Eleanor Butler was from the hereditary office of "Butler (cup-bearer) of Ireland". The family’s founder, Theobald Fitzwalter, was appointed the first chief butler of Ireland by King Henry II. Importantly, the Butler of Garryricken was from a cadet branch of the Butler dynasty that started with Richard Butler, and Eleanor Butler’s family came from the same branch.

The two emblems are tied together on the cups. The unification of emblems on objects usually represents an attempt to build relationships between aristocratic families. The marriage of the two aristocratic families is one way to strengthen the power of families. However, Sarah Ponsonby and Eleanor Butler did not have a real marriage. Drawing the emblems tied shows the Ladies’ intention of connecting their families together. On the one hand, the lozenge-shaped shields were their families’ emblems, which reflected their noble identities and sense of belonging to their noble family. They relied primarily on the annuities from relatives to support their livelihood. On the other hand, putting the two emblems together indicated the close and romantic relationship between Sarah and Eleanor. Placing their family emblems together was a special way of implying their romantic relationship.

The shields symbolize the noble identities of the Ladies of Llangollen and their romantic relationship, similar to the pattern formed by the overlapping abbreviations EB and SP in step 1. This set of cups therefore not only reflects their names but also their story, identities and relationship.