Description

A large and imposing antique silver samovar of plain design having a wooden swing handle and 12-sided baluster design. By the sought after Huguenot silversmith Paul de Lamerie. Britannia standard silver*. Very heavy gauge silver. The matching burner stand has carrying handles and stands on large wooden ball feet; it has a removable burner well with push on top and flip cap for the wick. Excellent colour and hand hammered finish. A nice feature is the hinged cover to the pouring spout. Engraved with a crest and name “Riversdale W.G”.

Weight 3696 grams, 118.8 troy ounces.

Total height 44cm (handle extended).

London circa 1720.

Maker’s mark stamped 4 times for Paul de Lamerie (Britannia mark).

Marks/cyphers.
-Makers mark struck 4 times to the kettle base (marks rubbed) and 4 times to the stand (marks clear); lid and oil reservoir unmarked. The Paul de Lamerie -“LA” Britannia mark was entered in 1713 and superseded by the “PL” sterling mark in 1733.
-Engraved crest to 1)lid and 2)burner top (worn).
-The name “Riversdale W.G” is engraved to 1)lid rim 2)kettle base 3)stand base 4)oil reservoir cover rim; the initial “G” is engraved to the burner top.

Literature: *Britannia Standard silver. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today.

This impressive antique silver kettle is in very good condition. Stamped with matching maker’s mark and cyphers (some rubbing). A few minor bruises. One of the wooden ball feet has been reglued. Fully functional and usable. Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item.

Maker: Paul de Lamerie

Paul de Lamerie (9 April 1688–1 August 1751). The Victorian and Albert Museum describes him as the "greatest silversmith working in England in the 18th century". Born in Bois-le-Duc, his French Huguenot family chose to follow William of Orange to England during the Glorious Revolution. In August 1703, de Lamerie became the apprentice to a London goldsmith of Huguenot origin, Pierre Platel (1659-1739). De Lamerie opened his own workshop in 1713 (1st mark "LA" - Britannia mark) and was appointed goldsmith to George I in 1716. 2nd mark 1733 - sterling mark). He worked in partnership with Ellis Gamble - formerly apprentice to Master William Hogarth- between 1723 and 1728. His early work is in the simple Queen Anne style, following classical French models, but de Lamerie is noted for his elaborate rococo style of the 1730s, particularly the richly-decorated works of an unidentified craftsman, the Maynard Master. Leaving his first premises in Great Windmill Street he moved to 40 Gerrard Street in 1738. Here he lived and probably had his shop, his workshops being located in one of the 48 properties he owned in the area. His customers included Tsarinas Anna and Catherine, Count Aleksey, Sir Robert Walpole, Benjamin Mildmay (Earl Fitzwalter and Viscount Harwich), the Earl of Ilchester, the Earl of Thanet, Viscount Tyrconnell, the Duke of Bedford, and other members of the English aristocracy. He also worked for King George V of Portugal. One of his productions to the Portuguese Court was a huge solid silver bath tub lost in the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake. A two-handled silver cup and cover by Paul de Lamerie, dated 1720, was among the wedding gifts of Queen Elizabeth II. Paul de Lamerie ranks as one of the stars of England’s finest period of silver. He was the most prolific silversmith of his time and his fame still lives on today.

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