A William IV silver chandelier, Robert Garrard, London, 1834-37

incorporating 18th century Flemish and Portuguese elements, former Michiel Verberckt, Antwerp, 1733/34, latter attributed to Caetano José Nascimento, Lisbon, 1790-95

Private Collection, Cap-Ferrat, South of France

This item has not been disassembled. All the branches and all the drip pans with their integral nozzles have Garrard's part marks. In addition there is a Garrard's maker's mark on the rim of the section immediately above the upper branches. Most of the body is Portuguese 18th century (see cataloguing) except for the section immediately below the upper branches which is Antwerp (see cataloguing). General condition from top: first section, which incorporates the hanging attachment - some denting and minor splits; second section finishing at upper branches - dents and minor splits, upper half of this section slightly pushed into lower half; Antwerp section immediately below upper branches - splits, old repairs and solder, piercing for electricity; all branches with drip pans and their integral nozzles in good condition, one nozzle with small leaf section lacking, two branches with traces of lacquer, electric fittings; Portuguese section above and below lower branches - with some old repairs including dents, splits and solder. Viewing highly recommended, overall a splendid piece in need of some tidying.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Until recently this chandelier has been in situ in a private villa in Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat where it is believed to have been since the villa was built in the late 19^th / early 20^th century. The Cote d'Azure first became popular with the British upper class in the 18^th century when novelists such as Tobias Smollett brought the warm climate and beautiful scenery to their attention with Travels through France and Italy, published in 1766. One of the first British noblemen to buy land and a villa in Cannes was the politician Henry Peter Brougham, 1^st Baron Brougham and Vaux, who was Lord Chancellor from 1830-34 and played an important role in the abolition of slavery. He first travelled to the area in 1834 and when he began wintering in Cannes he set a trend which soon turned into a small British enclave. With the arrival of the railway to Nice in 1864, and then Monte Carlo in 1870, the French Riviera became a popular destination for European Royalty including Tsar Alexander II of Russian, Napoleon III, Leopold II, Queen Victoria and The Prince of Wales. During the Belle Époque European and American elite built fabulous villas along the French Riviera and filled them with resplendent antiques and works of art from around the world. One example of this is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat built from 1905 –1912 by the Baroness Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild. Built in the Italianate style and now open to the public as a museum, the villa is home to a diverse collection of fine and decorative art amassed throughout the Baroness's life.

While Garrard's in the 19^th century is normally thought of as a manufacturer of contemporary silver, they like other retailing silversmiths of the time bought and sold old plate. This was both to satisfy the demand which already existed for old plate itself and to save on the `fashioning' cost by incorporating completed old segments into the manufacturing process, as has been done with the chandelier. The client would have been aware of its composite parts as is known from a Garrard inventory of a slightly earlier date

In 1829 `Garrard' is recorded  buying at auction `a splendid centre heater....finely modelled with an engraved moulding' which together with the next ten lots similarly purchased, made up what is now known to be an early 18^th century French centrepiece. This centrepiece of 19 elements,  the only complete surviving example in existence, made in Lille, circa 1708, probably for the Great Duke of Marlbororough was bought by Garrard's at little more than scrap, at between 7 shillings 11 pence and 5 shillings and  6 pence an ounce. Having got it back to the shop it was then converted into a number of items that suited contemporary needs by the addition of mounts for burners, together with modern dishes and covers to hold the food and keep it warm. With their now soldered-on modern heater mounts the old French elements were sold on 13 July 1830 to Viscount Combermere of Bhurtpore for a nice profit at 12 shillings and 6 pence an ounce but still considerably less than the modern dishes and covers that completed them which cost the Viscount  per ounce 16 shillings and 9 pence. Garrard's invoice makes it clear what they were selling

2 large Old French warmers for the top and bottom (of the table ) etc. Ref. Garrard's ledgers GL7 1827-30 p.330