MARK OF BENJAMIN GODFREY, LONDON, 1737

Details

A GEORGE II SILVER CUP AND COVER
MARK OF BENJAMIN GODFREY, LONDON, 1737
Inverted bell shape, on spreading circular foot, cast and chased with shells and foliate scrolls, the body with two leaf-capped scroll handles and applied with a broad band of spirally twisted flutes and foliage on a matted ground, below a moulded rib, the domed cover similarly applied and with leaf-capped vase-shaped finial with bud terminal, engraved twice on body and cover with a lozenge-of-arms, marked under base, engraved with scratch weight 86=15
12 3/4 in. (32.5 cm.) high
85 oz. 17 dwt. (2,671 gr.)
The arms are those of Vernatti impaling Tooke, as borne by Mary Vernatti (d.1728), daughter of Edmund Tooke and widow of the Amsterdam born merchant Constantine Vernatti (1625-1703), of Seething Lane, London.

Provenance

Anna Margaretta Vernatti (d.1765) who married Francis Edwards (d.1729) of Welham Grove, co. Leicester, by descent to her grandson,
Gerard Anne Edwards (1733-1795) of Welham Grove, who married Lady Jane Noel, sister of Henry, 6th Earl of Gainsborough, by descent to their son,
Gerard Noel Edwards (1739-1838), who assumed the name and arms of Noel by Royal License, becoming Gerard Noel Noel, 2nd Bt., then by descent,
A Gentleman; Christie's, London, 11 May 1994, lot 223.

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

The same arms appear on a pair of George II silver-gilt waiters by Francis Nelme of 1728, however as Mary Vernatti, nee Tooke, the widow of Constantine Vernatti (1625-1703) died in 1728, the arms on the present cup must have been engraved by their daughter, Anna Margaretta Vernatti (d.1765), in memory of her parents. She had married Francis Edwards (d.1729) of Welham in 1704. Anna Margaretta, who inherited great wealth from her parents, renounced any claim to her husband's estate passing it directly to her daughter making her one of the richest women in the country.

Mary Edwards was a great patron of the arts, in particular William Hogarth. She fell in love with Lord Anne Hamilton (1709-1748), third son of James, 4th Duke of Hamilton, so called after his godmother Queen Anne. They had a son out of wedlock and although there were claims the couple had married, there is no evidence of a ceremony ever having taken place. Maintaining her independence Mary later left her spendthrift partner and bequeathed her fortune to their son Edward Gerard Anne Edwards. He married Lady Jane Noel, sister of Lord Gainsborough, and their son Gerard Noel Edwards later assumed the name and arms of Noel by Royal Licence. He later succeeded to his father-in-law's baronetcy by special remainder.

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