Lot Essay
The arms are those of Clements impaling those of Gore, as borne by Nathaniel Gore, born in 1705. He was M.P. for Dunleek and later for Cavan and Leitrim. He was Searcher, Packer and Gauger of the Ports of Dublin, Sherries, Malahide and Wicklow, Deputy Vice-Treasurer and ultimately Deputy Receiver and Paymaster General in 1758.
He married January 31, 1729, Hannah, daughter of William Gore, Dean of Down and by her had six children. In 1759 Mrs. Delany wrote of them: "Not hear of Mr. and Mrs. Clements! Why she is finer than the finest lady in England. Dresses, furniture, house, equipage - excelling all. Mr. Clements is - her husband. They set out in life very young and very humble, though both of good families. He was a favorite of the famous Luke Gardiner's, and has gathered together by degrees an immense fortune, if one may judge by the magnificence of his living; and what is quite surprizing, they are both very moderate in understanding, and yet there is a cleverness and elegance in everything about them that is beyond what could be expected ..."
Their eldest son, Robert, who was born in 1732, was created Baron Leitrim in 1783, Viscount Leitrim in 1793 and finally Earl of Leitrim in 1795.
John Pero, apprenticed to Thomas Farren in 1709, was Free in 1717. Arthur Grimwade has remarked: "His work, which is rare, shows a high standard and individual character" (London Goldsmiths 1697-1837, 3rd ed., p. 620). A fine cake basket by Pero, of 1735, was sold by Sotheby's, London, June 10, 1993, lot 421.
These appear to be the only recorded salvers of this form bearing London hallmarks; all the others were made in Dublin and, given the Irish provenance of the present pair, it is clear that the form is a particularly Irish one. It has been suggested that all were engraved by the same hand. Of the others, a pair by John Hamilton, Dublin, 1736, was sold by Christie's, London, July 12, 1989, lot 199, while another, by the same, 1737, was sold by Sotheby's, London, July 9, 1964, lot 100 and is illustrated in Clayton, The Collector's Dictionary of the Gold and Silver of Great Britain and North America, 1985, plate 465. Another by the same of 1739 is also known.
He married January 31, 1729, Hannah, daughter of William Gore, Dean of Down and by her had six children. In 1759 Mrs. Delany wrote of them: "Not hear of Mr. and Mrs. Clements! Why she is finer than the finest lady in England. Dresses, furniture, house, equipage - excelling all. Mr. Clements is - her husband. They set out in life very young and very humble, though both of good families. He was a favorite of the famous Luke Gardiner's, and has gathered together by degrees an immense fortune, if one may judge by the magnificence of his living; and what is quite surprizing, they are both very moderate in understanding, and yet there is a cleverness and elegance in everything about them that is beyond what could be expected ..."
Their eldest son, Robert, who was born in 1732, was created Baron Leitrim in 1783, Viscount Leitrim in 1793 and finally Earl of Leitrim in 1795.
John Pero, apprenticed to Thomas Farren in 1709, was Free in 1717. Arthur Grimwade has remarked: "His work, which is rare, shows a high standard and individual character" (London Goldsmiths 1697-1837, 3rd ed., p. 620). A fine cake basket by Pero, of 1735, was sold by Sotheby's, London, June 10, 1993, lot 421.
These appear to be the only recorded salvers of this form bearing London hallmarks; all the others were made in Dublin and, given the Irish provenance of the present pair, it is clear that the form is a particularly Irish one. It has been suggested that all were engraved by the same hand. Of the others, a pair by John Hamilton, Dublin, 1736, was sold by Christie's, London, July 12, 1989, lot 199, while another, by the same, 1737, was sold by Sotheby's, London, July 9, 1964, lot 100 and is illustrated in Clayton, The Collector's Dictionary of the Gold and Silver of Great Britain and North America, 1985, plate 465. Another by the same of 1739 is also known.