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mportant objects many with British Royal provenance or of British historical interest in this the Platinum Jubilee season, lead the Treasures 2022 sale. Included is a group of remarkable and diverse pieces, including the magnificent Luck of Workington Hall, an agate cup by tradition given by Mary Queen of Scots to the Curwen family, the model of the celebrated ship from the most famous naval battle in British history, H.M.S. Victory, and a lantern from the gun decks of H.M.S Victory. Furthermore presented alongside a group of outstanding Royal silver pieces, is a domino set reputedly owned by Queen Victoria, together with important English and European furniture and a rare Fabergé jewelled platinum and rock crystal ‘ice’ red cross pendant.
This July Sotheby’s are pleased to offer an important collection of Royal English silver in their exclusive Treasures auction.
Sourced from an important British private collection, the group includes a range of items from a set of Twelve silver-gilt candlesticks made for Ernest Augustus 1st Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, and King of Hanover from 1837-1851 (Lot 15), to A Pair of Ambassadorial silver wine coolers made for the 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire to represent George III at the court of Catherine the Great from 1763-65 (Lot 12). English silver wine coolers of this period are rare as it wasn’t fashionable to drink chilled wine in the early 1760s in London, so it is not surprising that the Royal goldsmiths Parker & Wakelin, who received the commission, drew upon a French design by the famous Parisian silversmith Pierre Germain.
Another lot with an intimate Royal connection is a pair of possibly unique silver-gilt picnic vases, covers, burners and jugs (Lot 18), engraved with the arms of Ernest Augustus and the names and coronets of the Royal children. Purportedly a gift to the Duke from his siblings, these glamorous picnic vases remained in the Royal collection at Hanover until they were sold in 1924 via a Viennese agent to a London silver dealer. Lot 6 in this sale, A pair of silver casters engraved with the badge of George, Prince of Wales, later George II, left the royal collection in 1923 the same route, and formed part of the dazzling display of silver from Hanover that caused a sensation when it was exhibited for sale in London in 1923 - 24.
Lot 13, two silver-gilt ecuelles and stands were made by Thomas Heming from 1764-79 as gifts from King George III to his children soon after each of their births. Again, drawing on French influences, the design for these ecuelles, including their bold crown finials and shell-form handles, appears to have been exclusively used for the children of George III.
Whilst each of the lots in the group has a different royal origin, they are united by their outstanding quality, historical significance and excellent condition. It is rare for any objects to leave the British Royal Collection, so it is a great privilege to present several such items in the Treasures sale this Jubilee season.
