Lot Essay
The cypher is that of Augustus III (1696-1763) Elector of Saxony who also as Augustus II, reigned as the King of Poland, succeeding his father, Augustus the Strong, in 1733 (see footnote to lot 260, The Patino Collection, Christie's New York, 28 October 1986). Augustus the Strong, dubbed "the ever cheerful Man of Sin" by Thomas Caryle, was a man of gargantuan sensuality. However it is perhaps as patron of the arts that he is best known for he devoted much of his time to improving the city of Dresden and was instrumental in the development of the Meissen porcelain factory.
Much of the existing silver in the Green Vaults was disposed of and new commissions, carried out on the orders of Count Bruhl, were given to Dresden silversmiths. Augustus the Strong, on the other hand, had patronised Augsburg makers almost exclusively (see Jean-Louis Sponsel, Das Grünegewolbe zu Dresden, 1928, vol. II, p.127)
Six related candlesticks by Ingermann, presumably part of the set of thirty-six recorded by Rosenberg, also engraved with the cypher of Augustus III were sold Sotheby's Geneva, 12 May 1983, lot 80 and again on 18 May 1992, lot 83, These are similar to a pair of four-light candelabra, by Ingermann, not engraved with the Royal cypher but perhaps a Royal commissom, which are in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection (see Hannelore Muller, The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection: European Silver, 1986, no.75). A further set of six, consecutively numbered 39 to 44 were offered for sale at Christie's London, 19 May 1993, lot 98.
Much of the existing silver in the Green Vaults was disposed of and new commissions, carried out on the orders of Count Bruhl, were given to Dresden silversmiths. Augustus the Strong, on the other hand, had patronised Augsburg makers almost exclusively (see Jean-Louis Sponsel, Das Grünegewolbe zu Dresden, 1928, vol. II, p.127)
Six related candlesticks by Ingermann, presumably part of the set of thirty-six recorded by Rosenberg, also engraved with the cypher of Augustus III were sold Sotheby's Geneva, 12 May 1983, lot 80 and again on 18 May 1992, lot 83, These are similar to a pair of four-light candelabra, by Ingermann, not engraved with the Royal cypher but perhaps a Royal commissom, which are in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection (see Hannelore Muller, The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection: European Silver, 1986, no.75). A further set of six, consecutively numbered 39 to 44 were offered for sale at Christie's London, 19 May 1993, lot 98.