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Lot Essay
The arms are those of Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton and Brandon.
The 10th Duke of Hamilton entered politics in 1802 as a Whig and was appointed ambassador to the Court of St. Petersburg in 1806. Lord Lamington in the Days of the Dandies wrote of the Duke "Never was such a magnifico as the 10th Duke, the Ambassador to the Empress Catherine; when I knew him he was very old but held himself straight as any Grenadier. He was always dressed in a military laced undress coat, tights and Hessian boots &c." Lady Stafford mentions "his great coat, long Queue and Fingers cover'd with gold Rings". The Duke of Hamilton was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1836 and was Lord High Steward at the coronations of William IV and Queen Victoria. He married in 1810 Susan Euphemia, daughter and heir of William Beckford.
The Hamilton service, one of Paul Storr's great dinner services, was commissioned on the appointment of the Duke of Hamilton as ambassador to the Russian court. In 1919, Christie's dispersed a large part of the service, comprising 278 pieces and weighing a total of 9513 oz. The present lot was sold in 1980. The scroll handles, as found on the present tureens, are a distinguishing feature of the service. A pair of sauce tureens and a pair of second course dishes with silver-plate covers sold in these Rooms, 30 October 1990, lot 174 and 27 October 1992, lot 236.
The 10th Duke of Hamilton entered politics in 1802 as a Whig and was appointed ambassador to the Court of St. Petersburg in 1806. Lord Lamington in the Days of the Dandies wrote of the Duke "Never was such a magnifico as the 10th Duke, the Ambassador to the Empress Catherine; when I knew him he was very old but held himself straight as any Grenadier. He was always dressed in a military laced undress coat, tights and Hessian boots &c." Lady Stafford mentions "his great coat, long Queue and Fingers cover'd with gold Rings". The Duke of Hamilton was appointed a Knight of the Garter in 1836 and was Lord High Steward at the coronations of William IV and Queen Victoria. He married in 1810 Susan Euphemia, daughter and heir of William Beckford.
The Hamilton service, one of Paul Storr's great dinner services, was commissioned on the appointment of the Duke of Hamilton as ambassador to the Russian court. In 1919, Christie's dispersed a large part of the service, comprising 278 pieces and weighing a total of 9513 oz. The present lot was sold in 1980. The scroll handles, as found on the present tureens, are a distinguishing feature of the service. A pair of sauce tureens and a pair of second course dishes with silver-plate covers sold in these Rooms, 30 October 1990, lot 174 and 27 October 1992, lot 236.