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Lot Essay
While the design of these candelabra indicate that they were made under the direction of Kensington Lewis, they are marked by Paul Storr rather than Edward Farrell, maker of the rest of the Duke of York's candelabra. Technically, the presence of Storr's mark indicates only that he was responsible for presenting them to Goldsmiths' Hall for assay and duty upon completion. Perhaps Farrell's workshop could not meet Lewis's numerous orders in 1818, and he subcontracted the casting, assembly, or finishing of these candelabra to Storr, who in turn presented them to the Hall for marking.
The Duke of York auction catalogue included four similar candelabra, and the present pair, having dolphins rather than seahorses, are described as lots 77 and 78 as follows:
MASSIVE SILVER-GILT PLATE
Lot 75 A candelabrum, twenty-one inches high representing a triton seated upon a sea-horse, with reptiles and marine productions; upon the head of the figure is a shell, from which spring the heads of the hydra, forming branches for four lights, weight 213 oz [£92/6/8] Lot 76 A ditto, with a sea-nymph on a sea-horse, the companion; weight 209 oz. 10 dwts. [£91/10/17] Lot 77 A ditto, with a triton upon a dolphin, in other respects similar; weight 218 oz. 10 dwts. [£91/5] Lot 78 A ditto, with a sea-nymph upon a dolphin, the companion; weight 222 oz. 10 dwts. [£95/5]
The Duke of York auction catalogue included four similar candelabra, and the present pair, having dolphins rather than seahorses, are described as lots 77 and 78 as follows:
MASSIVE SILVER-GILT PLATE
Lot 75 A candelabrum, twenty-one inches high representing a triton seated upon a sea-horse, with reptiles and marine productions; upon the head of the figure is a shell, from which spring the heads of the hydra, forming branches for four lights, weight 213 oz [£92/6/8] Lot 76 A ditto, with a sea-nymph on a sea-horse, the companion; weight 209 oz. 10 dwts. [£91/10/17] Lot 77 A ditto, with a triton upon a dolphin, in other respects similar; weight 218 oz. 10 dwts. [£91/5] Lot 78 A ditto, with a sea-nymph upon a dolphin, the companion; weight 222 oz. 10 dwts. [£95/5]