MARK OF ABRAHAM BUTEUX, LONDON, 1727

Details

A GEORGE II SILVER SALVER
MARK OF ABRAHAM BUTEUX, LONDON, 1727
Shaped circular, with moulded border, on three scroll pad feet, the centre engraved with a coat-of-arms within an elaborate rocaille cartouche flanked by figures and with mask above, marked underneath and with scratch weight 59=6
14 1/8 in. (36 cm.) diameter
55 oz. 12 dwt. (1,730 gr.)
The arms are those of Smithson impaling Hare, for Hugh Smithson M.P. (b.c.1661-1740) of Tottenham High Cross, co. Middlesex, and Armin, co. York, and his second wife the Hon. Constantia Hare (d.1726), daughter of Henry Hare, 2nd Baron Coleraine (1636-1708), whom he married in 1717.

Provenance

Hugh Smithson M.P. (b.c.1661-1740) of Tottenham High Cross, co. Middlesex and Armin, co. York.
The Estate of Jacqueline Getty Phillips; Christie's, New York, 21 October 1993, lot 556.

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

hwilliams-bulkeley@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2666

Lot Essay

HUGH SMITHSON
Hugh was born into a landowning family with estates in Yorkshire and Middlesex. He was educated at Charterhouse and St. John's College, Cambridge, after which he entered Gray's Inn. He was first elected as M.P. for Middlesex in 1701, being re-elected in 1702 and 1710. He sat as Tory and was a member of the High Church October Club of M.P.s founded after the 1710 election. He eventually inherited estates which provided a sizeable income of over £3,000 a year. Although he was married twice he only had children by his first wife, all of whom predeceased him, therefore on his death he left the majority of his estate to his kinsman Sir Hugh Smithson, later 1st Earl and Duke of Northumberland (b.c.1714-1786).

More from Bayreuth: A Connoisseur's Collection of English Silver and Gold Boxes

View All