MARK OF LOUIS LAROCHE, LONDON, 1733

Details

A GEORGE II SILVER LARGE BASKET
MARK OF LOUIS LAROCHE, LONDON, 1733
Circular, the spreading foot chased with a band of acanthus leaves, the sides pierced with trellis work and stylised flowerheads above a band of chased strapwork and rosettes on a matted ground, the double scroll handle with central baluster knop, engraved in the centre with a coat-of-arms within a Baroque cartouche, engraved underneath with a differing coat-of-arms and a presentation inscription, marked underneath and with scratch weight 80=12
12 in. (30.2 cm.) high; 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm.) diameter
79 oz. 3 dwt. (2,463 gr.)
The arms are those Eliot impaling Craggs, for Richard Eliot M.P. (1694-1748) of Port Eliot, Cornwall, and his wife Harriot (1713-1769), natural daughter of James Craggs the Younger (1686–1721), whom he married on 4 March 1726. Harriot married secondly the Hon. John Hamilton. Their son John James was created 1st Marquess of Abercorn in 1790. Richard was Auditor and Receiver General to the Prince of Wales.

The second coat-of-arms is that of Knight quartering Slaughter, Leech and Bellinham with Cragg in pretence for John Knight (b.1686-1733), M.P. for St. Germans in 1710, 1713 and 1714 and his wife Anne, daughter of The Rt. Hon. James Craggs the Elder (c.1657-1721) Post Master General. Anne's brother, also James Craggs (1686-1721), known as The Younger, fathered an illegitimate daughter with his mistress, a young actress and dancer Miss Hester Santlow, who was to become one of the most celebrated figures on the stage in the 1720s and 1730s as Mrs. Barton Booth (b.c.1690-1773). The daughter Harriot Craggs (1713-1769) married Richard Eliot (1694-1748) of Port Eliot in 1726 (see above).

The inscription reads, 'The Gift of Mrs Knight to Richd Eliot Esqr to whose latest posterity may it remain in Memory of his worthy Friend John Knight Esqr of Gosfield Bell House in ye County of Essex'.

Provenance

The gift of Anne Knight, widow of John Knight (b.c.1686-1733), M.P. for St. Germans and daughter of The Rt. Hon. James Craggs (c.1657-1721) to her natural niece's husband,
Richard Eliot M.P. (1694-1748) of Port Eliot, Cornwall, and his wife Harriot Craggs (1713-1769), by descent to their son,
Edward Craggs-Eliot, 1st Baron Eliot of Saint Germans (1727-1804), then by descent to,
Peregrine Nicholas Eliot, 10th Earl of Saint Germans (1941-2016).
The Earl of St Germans Heirlooms Settlement; Christie's, London, 25 November 1992, lot 91.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Harry Williams-Bulkeley International Head of Silver Department

hwilliams-bulkeley@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2666

Lot Essay

HARRIOT CRAGGS, MRS RICHARD ELIOT.
The arms on this magnificent basket tell a complicated story of marriage and inheritance. This basket was a gift from Anne Knight, the widow of the Cornwall M.P. John Knight, to Richard Eliot, her niece’s husband. The niece Harriot was the born at the start of a long standing relationship between Thomas Craggs the Younger, a diplomat and politician and a young and beautiful dancer and actress Hester Santlow. The couple met around 1711 and Harriot is thought to have been born in February 1713. The relationship lasted until at least 1717. Tragically the widely liked Craggs died of smallpox in 1721 when Harriot was only eight years old. It appears that she then went to live with her aunt Anne Knight, wife of John Knight M.P. as she appears in a number of family portraits with her half cousins. Harriot's mother Hester married actor Barton Booth (1681-1733) in 1719 and she continued her acting and dancing career at Drury Lane. She was particularly known for her solo dance as a Harlequin, and it was in this role that she was painted in around 1719 by the artist John Ellys.

Harriot was married at the young age of 13 to Richard Elliott in 1725 when the groom was almost 32 years of age. Despite the marriage having been arranged, the couple learned to love each other and had nine children in all, the first when Harriot was only 14 years old. Richard died in 1748 at the age of 54. Harriot was married a second time to Captain John Hamilton, younger brother of the 8th Earl of Abercorn. With him she had two children, a daughter and a son John James, who would succeed his uncle as 9th Earl of Abercorn and was later created Marquess of Abercorn 1719. Harriot died in 1769. She was outlived by her mother by four years, whose considerable estate was left to her grandchildren, including John Eliot, 1^st Earl Germans (1761–1823).

Harriet Eliot (1681-1773), by Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792). © Art UK (Plymouth City Council)

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