Lot Essay
The arms and initials are those of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, 5th son of George III, born in 1771. One the death of his brother, William IV, he succeeded, under the Salic law, to the throne of the Kingdom of Hanover. The most unpopular of the Royal Dukes, largely on account of his professed dislike of 'liberal notions', his departure from England was the subject of considerable rejoicing.
It would appear that he took with him a considerable quantity of the Royal plate, some of it dating from the Stuarts, to add to the Hanovarian plate already in Hanover. He died in 1851 and was succeeded by his son, George Frederick, who in turn was deposed in 1866. During the Seven Weeks' War, the Prussian troops, having reached Hanover, sacked the Royal Palace, but failed to find the Royal plate, which had been hidden by adherents in the vault in the grounds covered in lime and debris.
In 1924 a significant portion of the Cumberland plate was sold by the family through Crichton Brothers. The initials EAFs stand for 'Ernest Augustus Fideikommis', the inventory mark of the entailed estate.
It would appear that he took with him a considerable quantity of the Royal plate, some of it dating from the Stuarts, to add to the Hanovarian plate already in Hanover. He died in 1851 and was succeeded by his son, George Frederick, who in turn was deposed in 1866. During the Seven Weeks' War, the Prussian troops, having reached Hanover, sacked the Royal Palace, but failed to find the Royal plate, which had been hidden by adherents in the vault in the grounds covered in lime and debris.
In 1924 a significant portion of the Cumberland plate was sold by the family through Crichton Brothers. The initials EAFs stand for 'Ernest Augustus Fideikommis', the inventory mark of the entailed estate.