A Rare and Important George III Paktong Firegrate CIRCA 1775

the serpentine front with pierced fluting and with applied oval flower-head patera within pearl-beaded moldings and above a pierced apron, the turned tapered supports with collars of stiff leaves and guilloche ornament below pearl-beading and flower head patera surmounted by similarly ornamented and engraved urns, the turned steel foliate ornamented ember bars flanked by uprights with applied husk decoration and surmounted by similar urns and flanked by curved wings with pearl beading and patera.

 

The Collection of Boscobel Restoration, Inc., Garrison, New York

By whom sold, Sotheby Parke Bernet, Inc., January 22, 1977, lot 95

The Estate of Belle Linsky, sold by the executors, Sotheby's, New York, June 3, 4, 1988, lot 268

In good overall condition, the paktong elements requiring a light cleaning overall, the iron parts with rust and old pitting overall.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

See:

W. D. John & Katherine Coombs, Paktong, Newport , 1970,

Christopher Gilbert and Anthony Wells-Cole, The Fashionable Fire Place 1660-1840, Leeds, 1985

Keith Pinn, Paktong The Chinese Alloy in Europe, Woodbridge, 1990

 

Paktong, or white copper, is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc with a soft silver-colored hue which does not tarnish. It appears to have its origins in China, one of the earliest references to the metal occurring in The Great Historical Geographical Genealogical and Poetical Dictionary, published in 1688, which under the heading, 'Empire of China...Province of Chekiang.......they have a white kind of copper which is but a little dearer than common yellow copper'. In China it was used mainly for small items for domestic use and for fittings found on furniture such as handles and hinges. From the small number of pieces which have survived from the 18^th century, and the lack of official records, it is surmised that it was possibly only imported into England by individual members of the East India Company trading on their own account.

 

This scarcity obviously precluded its wide utilization in the manufacture of most domestic wares, and it is therefore interesting to note that its use was basically confined to two categories, namely candlesticks and to fire grates. For the latter it was obviously a most desirable metal, its close resemblance to silver and resistance to heat and tarnishing being eminently suitable for the purpose. Many of the surviving examples are, as seen in the present lot, designed in the neo-classical taste and, although the alloy is not specifically mentioned in the drawings of Robert Adam depicting chimney-pieces, are found in houses designed by him. These include Osterley Park, Syon House, Saltram, and Nostell Priory.

 

Although designs for grates were included in many contemporary furniture pattern books such as the third edition of Thomas Chippendale's Director in 1762, there are few surviving references in manuscript documents which allows the attribution of them to a particular maker. The present grate is related to a design published I. Taylor in The Stove-Grate Makers Assistant, a Treasury of Original and Fashionable Designs for Bath Stoves, Pennsylvania Stoves, Single & Double Standard Grates , Fret &C by W. Glossop, Stove Grate Maker,  1771, pl. 22.

 

A group of very similar fire grates in paktong differing in the detail of their ornament and style of fire-back are recorded including one illustrated by W. D. John and Katherine Coombs, Paktong, Newport, 1970, p. 4, one sold Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, April 16-19 1947, lot 98, one sold Christie's, London, June 27, 1985, and another sold Sotheby's, New York, October 21-22, 1999, lot 409.                   

 

 

The building of Boscobel, New York, was commenced just before the death of States Morris Dyckman in 1806. Born in New York City in 1755, he was a loyalist in the British Army's Quartermaster Corp and purchased lands near Peekskill and along the Hudson totaling some one thousand acres. These were acquired using his brother as agent as he had left for England after the Revolution, being unable to return to the United States until the amnesty in 1789.After his death his widow, Elizabeth Corné, completed the house, living there until her death in 1823. Her collateral descendants resided in the house until 1888. After several owners it was acquired by Westchester County in 1924, being saved from demolition in the 1950s when the house was dismantled and erected on the present site at Garrison in 1960. The present grate was almost certainly acquired at that time as part of the refurnishing before it was opened to the public, further restorations and refurnishing being undertaken in 1975 to recreate a purely Federal interior. As being unsuitable in style and period the grate was de-accessioned.