Lot Essay
These candelabra form part of an extensive service commissioned by Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, the fifth son of George III. Born in 1771, of all Queen Victoria's "wicked uncles" he was perhaps the most unpopular of the six royal dukes, largely on account of his professed dislike of "liberal notions." Unlike his brothers however his lifestyle was decidedly moral and he had no long-standing and publically-acknowledged mistresses. His unpopularity with the people, however, was notorious and the attempted assasination attempt on him by his valet, Sellis, was met with widespread rejoicing. On the death of William IV in 1837, as the eldest surviving male child of George III, he succeeded to the crown of Hanover on account of the Salic law which prevented the young Queen Victoria from inheriting that throne. Tokens were struck to celebrate the Duke's departure from England and, while it might be charitable to compare Ernest Augustus's absolute rule in Germany with those of the enlightened despots of the previous century, his approach to kingship was more paternalistic than enlightened, and he could not be regarded in any way as a patron of the arts.
As a soldier, however, he was respected and, unlike many of his contemporaries, he showed genuine concern for those under his command. His early ambition had been to command the armed forces in Hanover, something which his elder brother, the Duke of York, as Commamder-in- Chief, refused to allow. In 1801, however, he had been appointed Colonel of the 15th Light Dragoons, which, in accordance with the changes in military fashion taking place at the time, were, in 1807, created an Hussar regiment. The Duke was an enthusiastic Colonel and commanded the regiment in person on manoeuvres and reviews, as well as taking a passionate interest in the minutiae of uniforms, ceremony and insignia. Around this time, an order was isssued that "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland directs that until further orders officers will discontinue to wear mustachios, it being difficult to preserve uniformity in this respect from the frequent leaves of absence granted when they are generally cut off." The Duke himself, nevertheless, felt no compunction in keeping his luxuriant side whiskers, which helped hide scars he had received in his assasination attempt. Princess Charlotte had dubbed him "Prince Whiskerandos," while the gutter press spoke of his "chin like mufty, grizzled and tufty."
The 15th Light Dragoons, known aslo as Elliott's Light Horse, had been founded in 1759. On July 16, 1760, the regiment captured five battallions of infantry and nine pieces of artillery at the Battle of Emsdorf, which became one of the honors in their colors.
Ernest Augustus took with him to Hanover a considerable quantity of the English Royal silver, some of it dating from the time of the Stuarts, in addition to his own personal silver. A claim was made by Queen Victoria for the return of certain of the Royal plate and jewels, which was successfully ignored for much of her reign. On the death of Ernest Augustus, his son, George Frederik, succeeded to Hanover but was deposed during the Seven Weeks War in 1866. The story is often repeated how the Prussian troops sacked Herrenhausen, the Royal Palace just outside Hanover, but failed to find the Royal plate which had been hidden in a vault in the grounds and covered with lime and debris (see E. Alfred Jones, "The Duke of Cumberland's Collection of Old English Plate," The National Review, January, 1920, pp. 679-685). Subsequently the family adopted the title Duke of Brunswick. A significant portion of the Hanoverian silver was sold to the Vienna dealer Gluckselig in 1924, much of it appearing in London in an exhibition held by Crichton Bros. in that year. These candelabra were, according to an inventory prepared at the time, accompanied by an eight-light centerpiece engraved with the same insignia. Other pieces from the Duke of Cumberland service were sold in these Rooms, April 14, 1994, lots 362-365.
Caption:
George Dawe: Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover (1771-1856). National Portrait Gallery, London.
As a soldier, however, he was respected and, unlike many of his contemporaries, he showed genuine concern for those under his command. His early ambition had been to command the armed forces in Hanover, something which his elder brother, the Duke of York, as Commamder-in- Chief, refused to allow. In 1801, however, he had been appointed Colonel of the 15th Light Dragoons, which, in accordance with the changes in military fashion taking place at the time, were, in 1807, created an Hussar regiment. The Duke was an enthusiastic Colonel and commanded the regiment in person on manoeuvres and reviews, as well as taking a passionate interest in the minutiae of uniforms, ceremony and insignia. Around this time, an order was isssued that "His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland directs that until further orders officers will discontinue to wear mustachios, it being difficult to preserve uniformity in this respect from the frequent leaves of absence granted when they are generally cut off." The Duke himself, nevertheless, felt no compunction in keeping his luxuriant side whiskers, which helped hide scars he had received in his assasination attempt. Princess Charlotte had dubbed him "Prince Whiskerandos," while the gutter press spoke of his "chin like mufty, grizzled and tufty."
The 15th Light Dragoons, known aslo as Elliott's Light Horse, had been founded in 1759. On July 16, 1760, the regiment captured five battallions of infantry and nine pieces of artillery at the Battle of Emsdorf, which became one of the honors in their colors.
Ernest Augustus took with him to Hanover a considerable quantity of the English Royal silver, some of it dating from the time of the Stuarts, in addition to his own personal silver. A claim was made by Queen Victoria for the return of certain of the Royal plate and jewels, which was successfully ignored for much of her reign. On the death of Ernest Augustus, his son, George Frederik, succeeded to Hanover but was deposed during the Seven Weeks War in 1866. The story is often repeated how the Prussian troops sacked Herrenhausen, the Royal Palace just outside Hanover, but failed to find the Royal plate which had been hidden in a vault in the grounds and covered with lime and debris (see E. Alfred Jones, "The Duke of Cumberland's Collection of Old English Plate," The National Review, January, 1920, pp. 679-685). Subsequently the family adopted the title Duke of Brunswick. A significant portion of the Hanoverian silver was sold to the Vienna dealer Gluckselig in 1924, much of it appearing in London in an exhibition held by Crichton Bros. in that year. These candelabra were, according to an inventory prepared at the time, accompanied by an eight-light centerpiece engraved with the same insignia. Other pieces from the Duke of Cumberland service were sold in these Rooms, April 14, 1994, lots 362-365.
Caption:
George Dawe: Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover (1771-1856). National Portrait Gallery, London.