MARK OF PIERRE PLATEL, LONDON, 1702

Details

A PAIR OF QUEEN ANNE SILVER-GILT CUPS AND COVERS FROM THE GORGES PLATE
MARK OF PIERRE PLATEL, LONDON, 1702
Each bell-shaped on spreading gadrooned foot, the lower body applied with egg-and-dart and husk strapwork, the harp-shaped handles with lambrequin terminals, each engraved with a coat-of-arms within a baroque cartouche, the domed cover applied with palm leaves and with bud finial, marked under each base and cover, engraved with scratchweights on bases 35=10 and 33=19, on covers 11=3 and 10=19
8 3/4 in. (22 cm.) high
91 oz. 10 dwt. (2,850 gr.)
The arms are those of Gorges, for Henry Gorges (b.c. 1665-1717) of Eye and the Mynde. Henry Gorges was M.P. for Herefordshire in 1698 and later for Weobley and Leominster. His first marriage was to Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Robert Pye of the Mynde.

Provenance

Henry Gorges (b.c.1665-1718) of Eye and Mynde, Herefordshire, one cup, cover and salver each by bequest to his two daughters,
Miss Meliora Gorges (d.1745) and Mary Huxley (née Gorges),
Miss Meliora's cup, cover and salver by bequest to her sister's daughter in 1745,
Miss Anna Maria Huxley (1728-1793), who married Ralph Cope Hopton (1726-1797), in 1748.
With Garrard and Company, London, by 1878,
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery K.G. (1847-1929), Prime Minister, purchased from Garrard and Company, 24 December 1878, '2 cups and covers £270-0- 0', then by descent to,
Neil Archibald Primrose, 7th Earl of Rosebery (b.1929),
The Rosebery Family Trust; Magnificent Silver-gilt, Objects-of-Vertu and Miniatures from the Rothschild and Rosebery Collection, Mentmore; Sotheby's, London, 11 February 1999, lot 25.
With S. J. Phillips, London.
Sir Arthur Gilbert K.B. (1913-2001), of Beverley Hills, California, collector and philanthropist.
Property of The Late Sir Arthur Gilbert to be sold for the benefit of The Gilbert Collection at Somerset House; Christie's, New York, 27 October 2005, lot 466.
A Distinguished Private Collection; Christie's, New York, 17 May 2012, lot 151.

Literature

The will of Henry Gorges of Eye, Public Record Mss. PROB 11/568/446, 1718.
R. & S. Garrard, Inventory of the Mentmore and London Plate belonging to the Right Hon.ble the Earl of Rosebery, 1879, p. 113, '2 antique chased strap pattern 2 handle Cups & Covers'.
R. & S. Garrard and Company Limited, Inventory of the Plate at Garrard & Co. Ltd., the property of The Right Honourable the Earl of Rosebery, K.G., 1909, chest 57.

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

HENRY GORGES
Henry Gorges was a wealthy man, the family fortune coming from the mercantile activities of his father, Ferdinando Gorges. Henry Gorges commissioned a service of exceptionally fine silver by David Willaume and Pierre Platel, two of the best Huguenot silversmiths in London.

In his will, dated 12 March 1717, he declared 'To my wife Dorothy...All my plate linnen household goods and furniture and utensils...in my house in Devonshire Street, St. Andrews Holborne and also such pieces of plate att my house att Eye...as she shall choose not exceeding £100. To my daughter Meliora £4000 and £80 a year...my pearl necklace and one of my best silver cupps and covers with such salver as she choose for it to stand on...To my youngest daughter Mary £3000 and £60 a year and my diamond ring with her mother's hair and a silver cup and cover the fellow to that herein before given to her sister Meliora with such salver to sett the same on as after her sisters choices as aforesaid she shall choose...the remaining plate to my eldest son Robert barring the large tankard to my executor for his trouble.'

These cups are recorded in the 5th Earl of Rosebery's inventory at Mentmore in 1879, p.113, as '2 antique strap pattern 2 handle Cups & Covers.'

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