An Italian silver-gilt ewer

UNMARKED, 17TH CENTURY

Details
An Italian silver-gilt ewer
unmarked, 17th century
Vase-shaped and on spreading circular foot, the body chased with vertical spiral flutes and with scroll handle terminating in grotesque masks, with cylindrical neck and curved lip applied beneath with a further grostesque mask, chased with narrow bands of flutes and engraved with bands of stylised foliage, the body engraved with the Royal crest within a Garter Motto and a coat-of-arms, the base engraved E.D.C. and E.A.F's.
12in. (30.5cm.) high
65ozs. (2,022grs.)

The crest is that of H.R.H. Prince Ernst Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, King of Hanover, K.G., G.C.B., (1771-1851).

'EDC' stands for 'Ernst, Duke of Cumberland'
'EAF'S' stands for 'Ernst Augustus Fidekommis', 'the entailed estate of Ernest Augustus'.

The arms are those of Pultney impaling Gumley for William Pultney, Esq., (1684-1764), later created 1st Earl of Bath in 1742, and his wife Anna Marisa, daughter of John Gumley., Esq., of Isleworth. An eminent politican and a renowned orator, he inherited a considerable fortune from his father which was later augmented by his wife's dowry. He was educated at Westminster School and after at Christ Church, Oxford. On leaving Oxford he went on the Grand Tour and it is possible that the present lot was acquired by him while travelling in Italy.
Provenance
William Pulteney, Esq., (1684-1764), later 1st Earl of Bath
Ernst Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover (1771-1851) Thence by descent to Ernst Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Crown Prince of Hanover (1887-1953).
Crichton Brothers, 1924.
John, 4th Marquess of Bute, (1881-1947).

Lot Essay

On the death of William IV in 1837, the young Princess Victoria became Queen of England. However, under Salic law a woman could not succeed to the throne of Hanover. Therefore the crown of Hanover passed to the eldest surviving son of George III, Ernst Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. Thus the thrones of England and Hanover were split after one hundred and twenty-four years. When the Duke of Cumberland left for Hanover he took with him his sizeable collection of plate and a considerable quantity of Royal Plate. Queen Victoria demanded the return of the Royal plate but this was not forthcoming and on the death of Ernst Augustus in 1851, the throne passed to his son George Frederick, who was later deposed in the Seven Weeks War in 1866. Miraculously, the plate was saved from destruction when the Prussian troops sacked the palace of Herrenhausen, having been hidden in a vault in the grounds which had been covered with lime and debris. The family, deprived of the title Kings of Hanover, were henceforth known as Dukes of Brunswick and lived at Gmunden in Austria. In 1924 a significant portion of the Hanoverian plate was sold privately by the family. Much of the silver was purchased by the Vienna dealer Gluckselig and subsequently exhibited and sold by the London dealers Crichton Brothers. It is probable that it was at this time that the ewer was purchased by John, 4th Marquess of Bute (1881-1947).

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