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Lot Essay
The form of the 'pilgrim flask' has its roots in the leather water flask carried by the pilgrim or traveller of the Middle Ages. T. Schroder in The Gilbert Collection of Silver and Gold, Los Angeles, 1988, p. 455, traces the development of the form to French silver examples of the late 16th century; although described as 'flagons' they have the same pear-shaped form, elongated neck and oval section of later examples. A rare French Renaissance example, with dragon-shaped chain attachments, engraved with the arms of King Henri III, is preserved in the chapel of the Order of the Saint-Esprit, Paris (Carl Hernmarck, The Art of European Silversmith, 1430-1830, London, vol. II, p. 97, pl. 292). Popular until the end of the 16th century, a revival of their manufacture took place in the 1660s. Particularly grand flasks with fine cut-card work were produced in the late 17th and early 18th century. A fine example by Anthony Nelme, dated 1715, is in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth, Derbyshire. Another bearing the arms of John, 1st Duke of Marlborough, by John Goode is in the collection of Earl Spencer, Althorp, Northamptonshire. Contemporary prints, such as Martin Engelbrecht's representation of the great silver buffet in the Rittersaal at the Berlin Schloss, circa 1708, indicate that they were arranged on side buffets during formal banquets. When placed in wine cisterns, they also served to decant wine.
These late 17th early 18th century examples provided the inspiration for Edward Farrell and Robert Garrard in the 19th century. These revival pieces were also used as grand display plate. Many of the examples by Garrard were presented by the Royal Families of Europe, such as those exhibited, London, Sotheby's, English Silver Treasures from the Kremlin, 1991, no. 111 which were given by the Royal Families of Greece and Denmark to the Tsar Alexander III on his marriage to Marie Fedorovna in 1866.
These late 17th early 18th century examples provided the inspiration for Edward Farrell and Robert Garrard in the 19th century. These revival pieces were also used as grand display plate. Many of the examples by Garrard were presented by the Royal Families of Europe, such as those exhibited, London, Sotheby's, English Silver Treasures from the Kremlin, 1991, no. 111 which were given by the Royal Families of Greece and Denmark to the Tsar Alexander III on his marriage to Marie Fedorovna in 1866.