A massive Victorian silver seven-light candelabrum centerpiece of Irish interest, Thomas Wimbush & Henry Hyde, London, 1833

the triform base engraved on one side with an inscription and on the other sides with the coat-of-arms, motto and initials of the recipient, furnished with fully-modeled figures of Bacchus and attendants, fitted with three detachable bifurcated two-light branches

base with restoration, some modern screws used on base, nozzles with some splitting to edges, overall good
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.

The inscription reads: "Presented to Sir Robt. A. Ferguson Bart. M.P. by the electors of Londonderry who supported him in Decr. 1832, to commemorate their high sense of his private worth and of his firm and manly resistance to a Petition against his fourth return for his native city which Petition a Commitee of the House of Commons declared to be "frivolous and vexatious"."

Sir Robert Alexander Ferguson, 1st Baronet (1796-1860) succeeded to the baronetcy in 1808. He was appointed High Sheriff of Donegal in 1818 and High Sheriff of Tyrone in 1825 and then elected as the Member of Parliament for Londonderry City at the 1830 general election, but his election was declared void. He was re-elected at the resulting by-election held on April 2, 1831, and held the seat until his death in 1860. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Londonderry from 1840 to 1860.

The Bacchic figures are modeled after those used by Paul Storr and Rundell, Bridge and Rundell. An example of these figures can be found on a candelabrum in the collection of Lillian and Morrie Moss, see Morrie A. Moss, The Lillian and Morrie Moss Collection of Paul Storr Silver, p. 98-99. Another example by Storr was made for the Sampaio service and sold by Sotheby's, New York, from a Private Collection, October 28-29, 1988, Lot 219.