APPARENTLY UNMARKED, PROBABLY DUTCH, LATE 17TH EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

A SILVER FILIGREE CASKET
APPARENTLY UNMARKED, PROBABLY DUTCH, LATE 17TH EARLY 18TH CENTURY
Oblong, the hinged domed cover and sides with filigree scrolls, with a flower thumb-piece, contained in a fitted shagreen green-velvet lined box with engraved brass mounts, and with a note written in an unknown hand 'Falagree [sic] casket - (belongs to black shagreen ditto) Given to my Grandmother Lady Antrim by Uncle Mark Kerr (her brother-in-law) afterwards Lord Antrim. Brought by him from abroad when in the Navy. Given me by my mother M.H.M.M'
The casket 4 7/8 in. (12.5 cm.) wide
11 oz. (346 gr.)

Provenance

Given by Mark Kerr (1814-1869), later 5th Earl of Antrim to his sister-in-law Lady Helen Laura McDonnell, only daughter of Hugh, 4th Earl of Antrim (1812-1855), who married Sir Malcolm McGregor of Mc Gregor 4th Bt. (1834-1879) and then by descent to their daughter Margaret Helen Mary (1867-1935) who married Alan, 6th Earl of Mansfield (1864-1935) and then by descent.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The lovely 'dressing-table' chest, filigreed with foliate scrolls in the Louis Quatorze 'Roman' fashion, relates to items of the lacquer toilet services discussed in Messrs Parker and Stalker's, Treatise of Japanning, 1688, and reflects the 'India' fashion promoted at the period by the East India Trading Companies. Related silver manufactures, possibly executed by Chinese craftsmen in India (Goa) or the Portuguese and Spanish colonies of Southeast Asia are discussed by M. Menshikova in Silver Wonders from the East; Filigree of the Tsars, Amsterdam, 2006.

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