.jpg?w=1)
拍品专文
"Never was such a magnifico as the 10th Duke" wrote Lord Laminton of Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton (1767-1852) in The Days of the Dandies. "When I knew him he was very old, but he held himself straight as any grenadier. He was always dressed in a military laced undress coat, tights and Hessian boots & c." Considered by his contemporaries to have "a great predisposition to over-estimate the importance of ancient birth", he served as Ambassador to St. Petersburg in 1806-07 and was the bearer of St. Edward's Crown at the coronations of William IV and Queen Victoria. (Complete Peerage)
He married in 1810, Susan Euphemia, 2nd daughter and co-heir of William Beckford. Numerous pieces from Beckford's collection passed to his son-in-law. When Lord Hamilton's paintings and decorative arts, including silver, sold at Christie's from June 17 to July 20, 1882, they fetched the staggering sum of £397,562. Additional silver, including the present lot, remained in the Hamilton Palace collection, until sold at Christie's on November 4, 1919.
The design for this inkstand is probably by Edward Hodges Baily after John Flaxman, R.A. It is part of a folio of working designs for Rundell's entitled "Designs for Plate by John Flaxman etc." in the Victoria and Albert Museum (C. Oman, "A Problem of Artistic Responsibility: The Firm of Rundell, Bridge & Rundell", Apollo, March 1966, p. 180.)
RUNDELL, BRIDGE AND RUNDELL
While today names like Paul Storr and John Bridge are celebrated for their excellence of design and skill in craftsmanship, in first years of the 19th century it would have been the retailers Rundell Bridge and Rundell whose name represented the pinnacle of The Business of Luxury,as they are described in Royal Goldsmiths: The Art of Rundell & Bridge 1797-1843, London, 2005.
The firm, located at 32 Ludgate Hill, was born when Philip Rundell (1746-1827) bought the business of William Pickett, in 1786. He was joined in running the business by John Bridge. The pair made a perfect team with Rundell running the shop while Bridge dealt with the clients. In 1805, Rundell took his nephew, Edmund Waller Rundell into partnership, whereupon the business was restyled Rundell, Bridge and Rundell.
By this time they were one of the main manufacturers of quality silver plate, jewels and gold boxes. The firm grew rapidly, so much so that by the 1820's, it was a vast enterprise with agencies in Paris, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Baghdad, Constantinople, Bombay, Calcutta, and various cities in South America.
It was in 1807 that Paul Storr, the gifted master silversmith, was persuaded to join the firm, followed the next year by the sculptor, William Theed (1764-1817) who had previously worked as a modeller for Wedgwood. When Theed died, Rundell took on another leading sculptor, John Flaxman (1755-1826). Unlike Theed, Flaxman was never a partner but was employed as the firm's designer and made models and drawings for many of the firms important commissions
Having been appointed, in 1797, as one of the goldsmiths to King George III the firm were regular suppliers to the Royal Family. For example the Prince of Wales ordered a service of silver-gilt plate of sufficient size and importance for use on State occasions. The Prince of Wales State plate was shown in an exhibit held for three days of every week during the spring of 1807. Invitation was by ticket only.
"All the Rich, the great and Noble of the Land flocked to see the display of the Grand Service. Their carriages blocked Ludgate Hill until seven o'clock each evening."
It was not until after Paul Storr had left the firm in 1819 that Philip Rundell entered his own mark, though he retired soon after, in 1823. He died four years later leaving a phenomenal personal fortune of around £1,500,000 to his nephew, Joseph Neeld, (who in turn bequeathed his wealth to Queen Victoria). Rundell's workshop continued operating up until the death of John Bridge in 1834. Thereafter the firm continued to commission silver from other manufacturers until it finally closed in 1843.
He married in 1810, Susan Euphemia, 2nd daughter and co-heir of William Beckford. Numerous pieces from Beckford's collection passed to his son-in-law. When Lord Hamilton's paintings and decorative arts, including silver, sold at Christie's from June 17 to July 20, 1882, they fetched the staggering sum of £397,562. Additional silver, including the present lot, remained in the Hamilton Palace collection, until sold at Christie's on November 4, 1919.
The design for this inkstand is probably by Edward Hodges Baily after John Flaxman, R.A. It is part of a folio of working designs for Rundell's entitled "Designs for Plate by John Flaxman etc." in the Victoria and Albert Museum (C. Oman, "A Problem of Artistic Responsibility: The Firm of Rundell, Bridge & Rundell", Apollo, March 1966, p. 180.)
RUNDELL, BRIDGE AND RUNDELL
While today names like Paul Storr and John Bridge are celebrated for their excellence of design and skill in craftsmanship, in first years of the 19th century it would have been the retailers Rundell Bridge and Rundell whose name represented the pinnacle of The Business of Luxury,as they are described in Royal Goldsmiths: The Art of Rundell & Bridge 1797-1843, London, 2005.
The firm, located at 32 Ludgate Hill, was born when Philip Rundell (1746-1827) bought the business of William Pickett, in 1786. He was joined in running the business by John Bridge. The pair made a perfect team with Rundell running the shop while Bridge dealt with the clients. In 1805, Rundell took his nephew, Edmund Waller Rundell into partnership, whereupon the business was restyled Rundell, Bridge and Rundell.
By this time they were one of the main manufacturers of quality silver plate, jewels and gold boxes. The firm grew rapidly, so much so that by the 1820's, it was a vast enterprise with agencies in Paris, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Baghdad, Constantinople, Bombay, Calcutta, and various cities in South America.
It was in 1807 that Paul Storr, the gifted master silversmith, was persuaded to join the firm, followed the next year by the sculptor, William Theed (1764-1817) who had previously worked as a modeller for Wedgwood. When Theed died, Rundell took on another leading sculptor, John Flaxman (1755-1826). Unlike Theed, Flaxman was never a partner but was employed as the firm's designer and made models and drawings for many of the firms important commissions
Having been appointed, in 1797, as one of the goldsmiths to King George III the firm were regular suppliers to the Royal Family. For example the Prince of Wales ordered a service of silver-gilt plate of sufficient size and importance for use on State occasions. The Prince of Wales State plate was shown in an exhibit held for three days of every week during the spring of 1807. Invitation was by ticket only.
"All the Rich, the great and Noble of the Land flocked to see the display of the Grand Service. Their carriages blocked Ludgate Hill until seven o'clock each evening."
It was not until after Paul Storr had left the firm in 1819 that Philip Rundell entered his own mark, though he retired soon after, in 1823. He died four years later leaving a phenomenal personal fortune of around £1,500,000 to his nephew, Joseph Neeld, (who in turn bequeathed his wealth to Queen Victoria). Rundell's workshop continued operating up until the death of John Bridge in 1834. Thereafter the firm continued to commission silver from other manufacturers until it finally closed in 1843.