A Regency cut-glass and gilt-bronze twelve light chandelier circa 1815, attributed to Hancock, Shepherd and Rixon

of tent and basket form, the top with three graduated canopies hung with lustres and drops above swathes of drops linked to a gilt-bronze corona ornamented with roses, thistles and shamrock from which the flower and rope ornamented candle-arms issue, with a basket below formed of drops and a cut-glass ball pendant

This chandelier is in excellent condition and is ready to hand. These are some replaced elements including several of the bowls beneath the drip-pans which closely match but are not very visible. Two of these bowls are chipped. Many of the icicle shaped lustres are chipped and are replacements.
"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."

Hancock, Shepherd and Rixon, listed as having premises at No.1 Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, were an important firm of glass manufacturers during the end of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century, with special appointments to the Emperor of Russia as well as King George III and his family. In 1819 the firm, now trading under the name of Hancock and Shepherd, supplied  a large chandelier to the Marquess of Westminster for his dining room at Eaton Hall, Cheshire. They also supplied chandeliers to James Henry Leigh (1765-1823) of Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire which are of strikingly similar form to the offered lot. The original sales invoice is preserved amongst the Stoneleigh papers in the record office at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford ( ref. DR 18/5/6992). For illustrations, see Charles Latham, In English Homes, 3 vols., 1909, vol. III, pp.339-344 and again H.A.Tipping, English Homes, 1921, Period V, vol.I  Early Georgian, pp.183-192. The Stoneleigh chandeliers are therefore fully documented and, based on the evidence of this documentation, a chandelier belonging to the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, which was introduced to Goldsmith`s Hall after the Second World War, has been more confidently attributed to Hancock ( cf.: Martin Mortimer, The English Glass Chandelier, 2000, p.132.) It would seem that the offered lot which shares many characteristics of the Stoneleigh chandeliers and the Goldsmiths chandeliers, can also therefore be safely attributed to Hancock.

In the 1830s when they were known as Hancock and Rixon they supplied `One 4-light gold coloured antique lamp' for St James`s Palace at a cost of £12 on 29 June 1833 and on 31 December 1835  they were recorded in the Windsor account books as having supplied four large chandeliers for the Grand Reception rooms at Windsor at a cost of £92 7s 1d (cf Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert (eds.), Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, p.393  and illustrated in Hugh Roberts, For The King`s Pleasure, The Furnishing and Decoration of George IV`s Apartments at Windsor Castle,  2001, pp.129-130, figs.142 and 143.

Related examples to the present lot can be seen at Saltram House, Plymouth, illustrated in Eileen Harris, The Genius of Robert Adam, His Interiors, 2001, pl.350, p. 235.  For further comparison see Sotheby`s London, Important English Furniture, 22nd November 2006, lot 303.