TIFFANY & CO. 18K YELLOW GOLD 1887 PRESENTATION CHALICE TO DR. JAMES L. CABELL, PROFESSOR OF PHYSIOLOGY & SURGERY AT UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (UVA), an elongated baluster-form well embellished by repousse scrolls and foliate motifs, sides of well embossed presentation and decorative foliate elements, one side with the seal of Virginia above "Presented to / Dr James L. Cabell, / Professor of Physiology & Surgery in the / University of Virginia, / by his colleagues and his former pupils, / with kindest regards and best wishes, / in commemoration of the completion of / fifty years / of continuous professorial service in the / University.", the other side with "JCL" monogram surrounded by flowers and "Nihil opinionis causa, / omnia conscientiae fecit.", raised on a knopped stem with chased fluting and beads featuring "December 21st 1887." date along edge, attached to a round base having scrolling vine border on four short paw feet with foliate knees. Underside impressed with "TIFFANY&Co / 18 Kt". Total weight: 537 grams. Tiffany & Co., New York City, NY. Circa 1887. 9 1/4" HOA, 3 3/8" D rim.
Catalogue Note: James Lawrence [Laurence] Cabell was born on August 26, 1813 in Nelson Co., VA to parents Dr. George Cabell (1774-1827) and Susanna Wyatt (1775-1817). The Cabells were a prominent Virginia family, including James's two uncles who were notable to the state's and university's history. His uncle William H. Cabell (1772-1853) served in the House of Delegates, representing Amherst Co., from 1796 to 1799 and then 1802 to 1805. Afterwards, William was elected as the 14th Governor of Virginia from 1805 to 1808 before becoming a Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court starting in 1811 until 1850. The other uncle, Joseph Carrington Cabell (1778-1856), served for decades in the Virginia General Assembly and helped in the planning of the University of Virginia with Thomas Jefferson. Joseph also was part of the University's Board of Visitors, serving from 1819 until his death, being the Rector, or chairman, twice from 1834 to 1836 and 1845 to 1856.
After his father died, James L. Cabell became the ward of his uncle William for two years and, then, under guardianship of his uncle Joseph, which coincided with James's matriculation at UVA in 1829. After receiving a Master of Arts degree from the University in 1833, James went onto to attend the University of Maryland Medical School, where he earned his medical degree in 1834 before his year-and-a-half-long medical residency at the Baltimore Alms House. At the end of 1836, he traveled to Paris, France in hopes to continue his medical education, though his stay in Europe was short-lived. He applied to a vacancy as a professor of medicine at UVA and was invited to teach as the professor of Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery, returning to Charlottesville for the 1837-38 session.
Even though there was skepticism to his appointment, both students and faculty members admired James's teaching ability, contributions to the profession, rigorous training of his pupils, and spiritual guidance. One of his tasks was the supply of anatomical subjects, known as "stiffs". This was mostly done through grave robbing newly deceased enslaved or free African Americans, whose bodies were prepared and later disposed by enslaved people preceding the Civil War. Because his research was mainly based on African American subjects, he published The Testimony of Modern Science to the Unity of Mankind in 1859, where he argued that all races descended from a single ancestor in accordance of biblical teachings. Though, the publication does support the doctrine of black inferiority, justifying white supremacy.
In addition to his work at the University, James was in charge of military hospitals of the Confederacy in Charlottesville and Danville during the Civil War, the resident physician at the Hot Springs in Bath Co. by 1870, the first president of the Virginia State Board of Health, the chairman of the National Sanitary Conference at Washington during the Memphis, TN yellow-fever epidemic, and the president of the National Board of Health from 1878 to 1883. He continued to serve as a professor instead of moving to Washington, DC in order to fully participate in the National Board due to financial losses as a result of a failed bank where he was a major stockholder. Also, in conjunction his public health interests, he wrote a paper entitled, "Sanitary Conditions in Relation to the Treatment of Surgical Operations and Injuries", to encourage surgeons to improve hygiene in their practices.
After remaining at UVA for more than 50 years, James finally stepped down from teaching as a result of his deteriorating health. Shortly after his retirement on August 13, 1889, he died and is buried along with his wife, Margaret Nicholson Gibbons (1819-1874), at the University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium in Charlottesville, VA. The couple did not have any children of their own, but adopted and raised his brother's orphaned daughter, Mary Cabell (Auchincloss) (1837-1903).

Excellent overall condition with minor wear and surface scratches, possibly one or a few minute/minor dents, being slightly bent around top of stem causing the well to be unlevel.