LONDON.- Koopman Rare Art, internationally renowned London antique silver dealer is once again exhibiting at Masterpiece London, London’s premier art fair, which opens on June 28 in the grounds of the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea (Stand C29).
Lewis Smith, Director of Koopman Rare Art, said: “Driven by the recent high demand for top quality antique silver we have managed to secure several great pieces for the upcoming season. A number are fresh to the market including some superlative Regency examples by Paul Storr and Benjamin Smith. We are delighted to be showing these at Masterpiece London together with a wide variety of exceptional historic silver ranging in date from 1600 through to 1950.”
Taking pride of place on Koopman Rare Art’s stand is a highly important silver-gilt tray made in London in 1814 by renowned English silversmith Paul Storr. Made for the first Earl of Ailesbury, the oval tray, which measures 76.2cms, has a highly decorative openwork grapevine border, the handles are formed of entwined serpents and the centre is exquisitely engraved with the Ailesbury arms held between two supporters. Previously in the distinguished collection of Lillian and Morrie Moss of Memphis Tennessee, this tray has an asking price in the region of £300,000.
Equally magnificent is a royal pair of figural candlesticks made by Edward Farrell for the Duke of York in 1823. Fabulously opulent and imaginative, with an exuberant nautical theme these superb examples were ordered through the architect Kensington Lewis as part of the Marine Service ordered by the Duke of York throughout the early 19th century. Other pieces of the service included The Duke of York candelabrum centrepiece, sold by Koopman Rare Art last year. Measuring 29.4cm, the candlesticks first came to the market through the Duke of York sale in 1827 (asking price in the region of £165,000).
From the celebrated collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller comes a highly important pair of George II salvers made for the Earl of Warrington in 1738 by Peter Archambo (asking price in the region of £175,000), as well as a set of six George I Royal Candlesticks London, 1718, bearing the maker’s mark of Nicholas Clausen and engraved with the Royal arms (asking price in the region of £185,000).
Also with a Royal provenance is an elaborate pair of George IV five-light candelabra. The candelabra bear the Royal Coat-of-Arms for one of the sons of George III and were made in London in1824-25 by Charles & John Fry. Extravagantly flamboyant they are richly cast and chased with rocaille and floral ornament, scrolling acanthus and lion masks (asking price in the region of £95,000).
A highly important Charles II Chinoiserie cup and saucer, made in London by an unknown silversmith with the maker’s mark of WS together with a mullet and two pellets above and below, is also bound to attract antique silver aficionados. Exceptionally rare the cup and saucer are of circular form, with the latter on a low pedestal foot. The saucer is decorated with Chinoiserie flat-chasing depicting a gentleman and attendant holding a sunshade amongst foliage with a bird flying overhead, while the cup is flat-chased with exotic ho-ho birds and berried foliage. The cup measures a mere 14.5cm in diameter and the saucer 10.2cm. Until recently the cup and saucer have been in a private American collection since the 1960s (asking price in the excess of £100,000).
Also of note are two elegant George III dessert baskets made in silver-gilt and glass. Made in London, one dates from 1805 and has the maker’s mark of Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith, while the other dates from 1809 and bears the maker’s mark of Benjamin & James Smith. The earlier of the two has four feet modelled as winged sphinxes, typical of the Egyptian style and bears the crest of Lord Foley, a title dating from 1776, while the later has feet in the shape of shells. Both are intricately decorated with a luscious profusion of vine tendrils, leaves and grapes (each has an asking price in the region of £65,000).
The Ouseley tea urn is a fabulous example of what was once an important component in the ritual of tea drinking. The tea urn was essentially designed to contain hot water, which unlike a teapot, which was lifted and then poured, the urn comes with a tap, which is opened and closed. Many also had heating elements underneath to help keep the water hot. They were the perfect conduit for the talented silversmith to display his skills and artistry. Bearing the coat-of-arms of Ouseley for Sir Gore Ouseley, this fine example by Paul Storr made in London in 1809 also has the crest and Royal garter of George III, due to the fact that in 1810 Sir Gore Ouseley became George III’s ambassador to Persia. The urn has a crown and griffin finial with gadrooned rim, while the handles are cast with lion masks. With a goose-form spout, the urn rests on a square base ending in paw feet and measure 34.3cm in height (asking price in the region of £24,500).
Among examples of European silver is a striking pair of Louis XVI dishes on stands made in Paris in 1785 and 1789 by the French silversmiths Henri Auguste and Robert Joseph Auguste. Engraved with the coronet and monogram of the infamous Harriet, Duchess of St Albans, it is clear that she subsequently instructed London silversmith Paul Storr to add warmers to the pair in 1811 (asking price in the region of £40,000).
From the renowned Borghese service is a pair of silver-gilt wine coasters, their borders pierced with anthemia and hippocampi. Made in Florence in around 1825 by the Scheggi Brothers and bearing the princely coat-of-arms, the coasters were in the Borghese Palace Sale held in Rome in 1982 and have been in a private collection ever since (asking price in the region of £19,500).
