AN AMERICAN SILVER "LILY PAD" Water PITCHER, MARTELÉ, Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, RI, chased by Clemens Friedell, 1903

of good weight, oval blauster form with undulating rim, the body and foot chased with lily pads, lotus blossoms and cattails, scoll handle, underside engraved "William A. Nettleton"

Larry Pristo, Martelé Gorham's Nouveau Art Silver, 2002, p.301.

heavy, chasing crisp, very minor scratches to body at unchased areas, overall very good condition
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.

Clemens Friedell was born in 1872 to Austrian immigrant parents living in Crescent City, LA.. His family returned to Vienna in 1875, and it was there that Friedell served a seven-year apprenticeship to a Viennese silversmith. In 1892 he relocated to the United States, and worked for a jeweler in San Antonio, TX. At the age of 29 he was hired by Gorham to work on their esteemed Martelé line. Friedell was assigned to desk 44 in the chaser's room, where he work for seven years. His career at Goham ended in September 1907 when he was laid off as a result of the current Depression. By 1911 Friedell had settled in Pasadena, CA. As the Pasadena area was rather affulent Friedell was able to establish his silversmithing business quickly. A year later he was commissioned by brewing tycoon E.R. Maier to create an elaborate service reminiscent of the work he had done for Gorham. Maier's "Orange Blossom" service took over a year to make and consisted of 107 pieces decorated with 10,000 chased orange blossoms. Friedell became recognized within the southern California equestrian circles, and thus recieved many commissions trophis, including the trophy for the Tournament of Roses parade. In 1916 he moved his operations to the glamorous Hotel Maryland resort in Pasadena where he remained until his retirement in 1921. Friedell came out of retirement in 1927 and opened another shop in Pasadena, where he sold objects in art deco and neoclassical styles in addition to the more art nouveau works which had gained him recognition. The Great Depression had little effect on Friedell's buisiness, wich remianed prosperous until his death in 1963.