MARK OF THOMAS HOLLAND, LONDON, 1807

Details

A PAIR OF GEORGE III SILVER EWERS
MARK OF THOMAS HOLLAND, LONDON, 1807
Each vase shaped on spreading circular foot with egg-and-dart and reeded vine borders, the shoulder chased with a strap of demi-putti with lyres, the handle formed as a male Bacchic caryatid, the spout applied with a female mask with lion headdress, the rim applied with vine tendrils and fruits, engraved below the spout with a coat-of-arms with baron's coronet above and motto below, marked below the rim
14 1/8 in. (36 cm.) high
148 oz. 3 dwt. (4,609 gr.)
The arms are those of Monson, for John George, 4th Baron Monson (1785-1809), of Burton, co. Lincoln, who married Sarah, daughter of 2nd Earl Mexborough in 1807.

Provenance

John George, 4th Baron Monson (1785-1809) of Burton, co. Lincoln.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 5 October 1970, lot 57.
A European Collector; Christie's, New York, 23 October 2000, lot 352.

Literature

V. Brett, The Sotheby's Directory of Silver, London, 1986, p. 246, no. 1110.
P. Waldron, The Price Guide to Antique Silver, Woodbridge, 1982, no. 1116.
A. Phillips and J. Sloane, Antiquity Revisited: English and French Silver-Gilt from the Collection of Audrey Love, London, 1997, no. 15, pp. 72-74.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Harry Williams-Bulkeley International Head of Silver Department

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Lot Essay

THOMAS HOLLAND AND EDWARD FARRELL
Thomas Holland was a retail silversmith with premises in Bell Yard, in the Temple, just off Fleet Street. It is thought that he employed the goldsmith Edward Farrell before the latter registered his own mark in 1813 and entered the business of Kensington Lewis, retailer to the Duke of York (1767-1827). Amongst the evidence for this is a similar ewer of 1807, made for the Duke, later embellished by Edward Farrell in 1823, see below. Also a pair of figural Rococo style candlesticks, sold Sotheby's, London, 27 April 2010, lot 281, which are struck with Holland's mark, but which relate to pair of candlesticks with figure stems and reclining figures, marked by Farrell, London, 1821, engraved with the arms of George, Prince of Wales, sold Christie's, London, 24 November 1971, lot 45, and a pair of tapersticks, with Chinese figure stems, London, 1814, sold Sotheby's, London, 20 November 1977, lot 29, also struck with Farrell's mark.

This form of ewer was clearly promoted heavily by Holland as three pairs and three single examples are recorded as having been manufactured in 1807. All have the male caryatid handle, a female mask below the spout, and a classical frieze at the shoulder. The example made for the Duke of York was later embellished with battle scenes by Edward Farrell in 1823. The list compiled by Phillips and Sloane, op. cit., is cited below.

i) A silver-gilt pair, with the arms of the 5th Baron Aylmer (1775-1850), 14 ¼ in. (36.2 cm.) high, weight for pair 168 oz. (5,224 gr.), sold Sotheby's, London, 26 February 1976, lot 186, illustrated in Brett, op. cit., no. 1108.

ii) A single silver example, with the arms of Bolton impaling Littledale 13 ¾ in. (34.9 cm.) high, weight 60 oz. 2 dwt. (1,869 gr.), sold Sotheby's, London, 17 May 1973, lot 49, illustrated in Brett, op. cit., no. 1109.

iii) The above ewer may be the same as, or a pair to, another similarly engraved, sold Sotheby's, New York, 15 December 1983, lot 116. (The height at 14 in. (35.8 cm.) and weight at 59 oz. 15 dwt. (1,858 gr.) varies slightly from the ewer above.

iv) A pair, ungilded, the present lot, with the arms of the 4th Baron Monson (b.1785), 14 in. (36.2 cm.) high, weight for pair 148 oz. 10 dwt. (4,618 gr.), sold Sotheby's, London, 15 October 1970, lot 57, illustrated in Brett, op. cit., no. 1110.

v) A silver-gilt example, with later plaque and inscription dated 1822, 14 in. (35.8 cm.) high, weight 79 oz. (2,457 gr.), sold Sotheby's, New York, 21 April 1983, lot 270.

vi) A silver-gilt example, once a pair, with later ornament by Edward Farrell, circa 1823, engraved with arms of Prince Frederick Augustus, Duke of York (1763-1827), 13 ¾ in. (34.9 cm.) high, 87 oz. (2,710 gr.), sold The Love Collection; Christie’s, New York, 19 October 2004, lot 204. illustrated in Brett, op. cit., no. 1107.

JOHN GEORGE MONSON, 4TH BARON MONSON
Lord Monson was educated at Harrow and then Christchurch, Oxford. He succeeded his father in 1807 at the age of 21. He married in October the same year Lady Sarah Savile (1786-1851), eldest daughter of John, 2nd Earl of Mexborough. He made use of his inheritance commissioning new plate in the latest style. In addition to the present pair of ewers he also commissioned Paul Storr to provide him a service of plate, much of which was sold at Sotheby's, London, on 19 April 1951.

The sale included a monumental centerpiece of two tiers supported by three female figures above a base of three seated musicians; a set of four vegetable dishes and two pairs of entrée dishes, all with baron's coronet finials. Gilt silver by Storr included a pair of tazzas and a matching tea tray, illustrated in N. M. Penzer, Paul Storr, 1774-1844, Silversmith & Goldsmith, London, 1954, pl. XXV and in T. Schroder, The Gilbert Collection of Gold and Silver, 1988, pp. 364-66. He also commissioned a pair of wine coolers, sold Christie's, New York, 19 October 2010, lot 123. Tragically the 4th Baron Monson died aged only 24 and his son, John (1809-1841) succeeded as 5th Baron at eight months of age.

John, 4th Baron Monson (1745-1809), by Henry Pierce Bone (1779-1855). © Bridgeman Images.

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