Property of an Important West Coast Collection
A George IV Silver Covered Bowl on Stand, Paul Storr, London, 1822
Lot Closed
October 17, 07:12 PM GMT
Estimate
40,000 - 80,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A George IV Silver Covered Bowl on Stand, Paul Storr, London, 1822
of exceptional weight, the bulbous body inset with a fine cast plaque of Jupiter dispersing the vices, the opposite side with engraved armorials surrounded by chased flowers, the handles formed as boldly modelled eagles with spread wings and ruffled feathers perched on spreading oak branches, the projecting rim cast with flowers and foliage including heads of dolphins, eagles and lions, with an upper rim of bouquets alternating with the emblems of the British Isles, the cover applied with a pomegranate on leafy stem, all raised on a heavy cast base of four fully modeled eagles, two with their talons on a lamb, surrounded by shells, foliage, grapes, morning glory and ivy, on openwork grapevine and scroll feet, originally a tea urn, spigot removed, marked on body, base, cover, finial and screws, the base rim signed Hamlet fecit, Goldsmith to the King, on a Sheffield Plate circular mirror plateau with grapevine rim and four supports headed by female masks, by T.& J. Creswick, circa 1830
344 oz
10,713 g
height 16 ½ in.
42 cm
Probably David Orgell, Beverly Hills, circa 1980
The same handles appear on a pair of tureens ordered by the 6th Duke of Devonshire through Garrard’s and marked by Storr in 1820. The eagles perch on oak sprays, which recall the designs attributed to Edward Hodges Baily, found on a leaf from the Rundell album at the Victoria and Albert Museum, illus. Christopher Hartop, Art in Industry, The Silver of Paul Storr, Catalouge for Koopman Rare Art, 2015, p. 87. One of the Devonshire Tureens is illustrated on page 95.
The arms are those of Le Breton, Jersey and London.
The inscription reads “Presented to Sir Thomas Le Breton on his retiring from the Office of Bailly of Jersey by one hundred and seventy Gentlemen of that Island, a feeble, but sincere testimony of their respect, esteem and attachment, 1832”
Thomas Le Breton was born in 1763, attended Winchester College 1777-1783, Jesus College 1783, switching to Pembroke College. At Oxford he was known as “handsome Tom” where he excelled at Latin. He returned to Jersey, joined the Militia Cavalry and studied Law, becoming Advocate in 1799 and Attorney General in 1802. He was knighted in 1825, Bailiff 1826, resigning in 1831. He died at Bagatelle in 1838.
Thomas Hamlet was a celebrated retail goldsmith and jeweler. By 1797 he had set up at 1 & 2 Princes Street, Leicester Fields, and by the 1820s he advertised himself as “Goldsmith and Jeweller to his Majesty and to their Royal Highnesses the Duke of York, Princess Augusta, Landgravine of Hombourg, Duchess of Gloucester & Princess Sophia, and his Serene Highness the Landgrave of Hesse Hombourg…” In 1827 he set up the Royal Bazaar, British Diorama, and Exhibition of Works of Art at 73 Oxford Street. This was destroyed by fire in 1829 but rebuilt as the Queen’s Bazaar circa 1830 and then converted to the Princess’s theatre, still unfinished in 1838. A sale of his stock in 1834 to relieve his financial situation included the twelve Aldobrandini Ceasar Tazze, reportedly bought by Emanuel for 1000 guineas. Declared bankrupt in 1841, he died in 1853. For more details see John Culme, The Directory of Gold and Silversmiths , Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914, Vol. I, p. 206.
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