The monogram is that of Nathan Meyer and Hannah Rothschild and the crest is that of Rothschild. Nathan Meyer de Rothschild, born in 1777, was the third of Meyer Amschel Rothschild's five sons and was head of the London branch of the family's banking business which staked its fortunes on the success of the British against the French during the Napoleonic wars. Indeed, Nathan Meyer's willingness to advance funds to foreign heads of state prompted a contemporary anecdote that likened him to the Sultan, because one was the Ruler of all Believers and the other was the Believer of all Rulers. For their services to the Austrian Empire, all five brothers were created Barons of Austria in 1822.

Rothschild married on October 22, 1806 Hannah, third daughter of Levi Barent Cohen of London. Prince Pükler-Muskau, a visitor to London in 1827, wrote of Rothschild, 'He doubtless owes much to the good advice of his extremely amiable and judicious wife, who excels him in tact and knowledge of the world, though not perhaps in acuteness and talents for business.' The Prince goes on to describe 'a magnificent dinner, the dessert of which alone, cost a hundred pounds. . . We had a great exhibition of splendour. The table service was of vermillion and silver; that of the dessert, I think, all gold.' (Letters, trans. by S. Austin, 1958, p. 97).

A pair of candelabra from the same service was sold in these Rooms, October 18, 1994, lot 340. The design of the candlesticks is uncommon in the work of Paul Storr; a pair of 1809 was sold on behalf of the Republic of Philippines through the Presidential Commission on Good Government, January 10, 1991, lot 47.