THE SPICE-BOXES MARK OF PAUL CRESPIN, LONDON, 1749

Details

A set of six George II silver double spice-boxes and ten condiment spoons
The spice-boxes mark of Paul Crespin, London, 1749
The spice-boxes each oblong with incurved angles, on four ball feet, with gadrooned and guilloche borders, the hinged cover with ball finial, the interior with divider, the base engraved with 'C' cypher with earl's coronet above, each marked under base and inside cover, the bases also engraved with number and scratchweight 'No 1 14=9'; 'No 2 14=13'; 'No 3 13=19 1/2'; 'No 4 14=4'; 'No 5 14= 3 1/2'; 'No 6 14=3', the spoons with scroll terminals and shell bowls, similarly engraved
4¼in. (10.8cm.) long
84oz. (2,627gr.)
The cypher is for either Henry, 2nd Earl of Rochester and 4th Earl of Clarendon of the first creation (1672-1753) or his son-in-law Thomas, 1st Earl of Clarendon of the second creation (1709-1786). (6)

Provenance

Commissioned by Henry, 2nd Earl of Rochester and 4th Earl of Clarendon of the first creation (1672-1753) and then by descent to his granddaughter
Charlotte (d.1790), who married The Hon. Thomas Villiers (1709-1786), later 1st Earl of Clarendon of the second creation and then by descent or
Commissioned by Thomas, 1st Earl of Clarendon of the second creation (1709-1786) and then by descent.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Double spice-boxes such as these are rare; pairs are rarer still. To find a set of six with ten contemporary spoons is exceptional. An earlier pair of double spice-boxes by Anne Tanqueray of 1728, sold from the collection of Parham Park, Pulborough, West Sussex, Christie's, May 13-14, 1996, lot 254. A pair by Paul de Lamerie are illustrated in M. Clayton, The Collector's Dictionary of the Silver and Gold of Great Britain and North America, Woodbridge, 1971, p.368. A number of single examples are known such as that from the collection of the Dukes of Norfolk illustrated in C. Hartop, The Huguenot Legacy, London, 1996, no.21.

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