BY LES FRÈRES SOUCHAY, MARKED, HANAU, CIRCA 1780, STRUCK WITH THE HANAU TOWN MARK FOR 19 CARAT GOLD, A CROWNED LETTER K AND A MARK RESEMBLING THE CHARGE MARK OF JULIEN ALATERRE

The brothers Esay (1723-1791) and Marc André Souchay (1730-1811) came from one of Hanau's Huguenot families of bijouteries, French speaking Huguenot jewellers who had been attracted to Hanau by the privileges and financial incentives extended by Prince Regent William (1682-1760), later Landgrave William VIII (1730-1760), to anyone who was willing to set up in business in Hanau. George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) was a German, later British Baroque composer who spent the majority of his career in London, becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel received critical training in Halle, Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712. He became a naturalised British subject in 1727. He is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era, with works such as Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and Messiah.