Lot Essay
The coronet and initial are those of Adolphus Frederick, 1st Duke of Cambridge (1771-1850), seventh son of George III.
Based on German renaissance models, these appear to be copies of a set of four antique silver-gilt "foreign cyder cups" purchased by John Bridge at the celebrated auction of the silver of the Duke of York at Christie's in 1827. Bridge evidently made these reproductions the following year for the Duke of Cambridge. The beakers are important examples of the antiquarian taste in silver favored by the Royal Dukes at the beginning of the 19th century. The antiquarian collecting activities of the Prince Regent, later George IV, are well-known, and have been much discussed, particularly in the context of the renovations at Carlton House and Windsor Castle. Less well-known, however, is the related silver collected or commissioned by his brothers, the Duke of York, the Duke of Sussex, and the Duke of Cambridge. All three of these important silver collections were sold at Christie's, and their auction catalogues document the interest in historicism of the Royal Dukes.
The 1st Duke of Cambridge enlisted retailers Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell to bid on his behalf at the Duke of York sale, where he acquired a Flaxman-designed Shield of Achilles by Philip Rundell and a pair of mannerist-style ewers by Edward Farrell. It is therefore very likely that the four "foreign cyder cups, engraved and embellished with friezes of minute figures and landscapes, of old Flemish design . . . contained in a box of purple morocco, lined with blue velvet "were purchased by Bridge on behalf of the Duke, who then filled out the set (Christie's, March 19-22, 1827, lot 97). Six of the cups made by Bridge in 1828 were described as "copies of old German cups" and were sold in the sale of the 2nd Duke of Cambridge (1818-1904), who inherited his father's collection of silver, including the Flaxman shield and the Farrell ewers cited above (Christie's, 1904, lot 86).
These beakers are outstanding examples of Rundell and Bridge's contribution to the historicist movement of the early 19th century. John Bridge's nephew and partner, John Gawler Bridge, was an assiduous student of antique silver, and in 1827 was "characterictically enough, visiting the Print Room [at the British Museum] for the purpose for examining its collection of historic designs for plate." (Shirley Bury, "The Lengthening Shadow of Rundell's," Connoisseur, March 1966, p. 157.) An historicist silver-gilt castor in the gothic taste, probably designed by Pugin and J.G. Bridge and marked by John Bridge in 1830, was sold in these Rooms, April 18, 1991, lot 228.
Based on German renaissance models, these appear to be copies of a set of four antique silver-gilt "foreign cyder cups" purchased by John Bridge at the celebrated auction of the silver of the Duke of York at Christie's in 1827. Bridge evidently made these reproductions the following year for the Duke of Cambridge. The beakers are important examples of the antiquarian taste in silver favored by the Royal Dukes at the beginning of the 19th century. The antiquarian collecting activities of the Prince Regent, later George IV, are well-known, and have been much discussed, particularly in the context of the renovations at Carlton House and Windsor Castle. Less well-known, however, is the related silver collected or commissioned by his brothers, the Duke of York, the Duke of Sussex, and the Duke of Cambridge. All three of these important silver collections were sold at Christie's, and their auction catalogues document the interest in historicism of the Royal Dukes.
The 1st Duke of Cambridge enlisted retailers Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell to bid on his behalf at the Duke of York sale, where he acquired a Flaxman-designed Shield of Achilles by Philip Rundell and a pair of mannerist-style ewers by Edward Farrell. It is therefore very likely that the four "foreign cyder cups, engraved and embellished with friezes of minute figures and landscapes, of old Flemish design . . . contained in a box of purple morocco, lined with blue velvet "were purchased by Bridge on behalf of the Duke, who then filled out the set (Christie's, March 19-22, 1827, lot 97). Six of the cups made by Bridge in 1828 were described as "copies of old German cups" and were sold in the sale of the 2nd Duke of Cambridge (1818-1904), who inherited his father's collection of silver, including the Flaxman shield and the Farrell ewers cited above (Christie's, 1904, lot 86).
These beakers are outstanding examples of Rundell and Bridge's contribution to the historicist movement of the early 19th century. John Bridge's nephew and partner, John Gawler Bridge, was an assiduous student of antique silver, and in 1827 was "characterictically enough, visiting the Print Room [at the British Museum] for the purpose for examining its collection of historic designs for plate." (Shirley Bury, "The Lengthening Shadow of Rundell's," Connoisseur, March 1966, p. 157.) An historicist silver-gilt castor in the gothic taste, probably designed by Pugin and J.G. Bridge and marked by John Bridge in 1830, was sold in these Rooms, April 18, 1991, lot 228.