Heritage's Nov. 18 Silver Auction showcases the masters of British and American silversmithing
A J.C. Moore & Son Partial Gilt Silver Figural Footed Bowl with Applied Lobsters, New York, 1854-1870. Marks: TIFFANY & CO., 2715, QUALITY, 925-1000, M, 2740, UNION SQUARE, 8-1/2 x 13 x 7-1/8 in. Estimate: $4,000 - $6,000.
DALLAS, TX.—
In the hands of an expert silversmith, even the most practical household implement can become an object of remarkable craftsmanship and beauty. That marriage of artistry and utility lies at the heart of Heritage Auctions' Nov. 18 Fine Silver & Objects of Vertu Signature® Auction, which brings together exceptional examples of English and American silver alongside distinctive works from Europe and Asia.
With particular strength in British silver of the 18th and 19th centuries and American silver of the 19th century, the auction offers collectors an opportunity to explore the history of silversmithing through celebrated makers, ingenious forms and objects created to bring elegance and ceremony to everyday life.
Leading the British selection is an exceptional offering of 13 works by Paul Storr, widely regarded as one of the greatest English silversmiths of the Regency era. Celebrated for his technical mastery and elegant designs, Storr created silver for some of Britain's most prominent patrons, producing everything from elaborate ceremonial vessels to beautifully crafted domestic objects.
Heritage's auction offers an unusually broad look at Storr's work, including an 1827 silver candle snuff and wick trimmer that demonstrates how even a modest household tool could become an exercise in refined design. At the other end of the spectrum is an elegant covered serving dish dating to 1807, its graceful form reflecting the elaborate rituals of dining and entertaining in Regency England. Other Storr highlights include two elegant neoclassical hot-water ewers on stands made between 1802 and 1806.
"Paul Storr is a wonderful example of how a collection can grow around a single maker," says Karen Rigdon, Heritage's Vice President of Fine Silver & Decorative Arts. "You can begin with something as small and ingenious as a candle snuffer and find yourself exploring an entire world of Regency dining, entertaining and decorative arts. The range of his work is extraordinary."
Among the other British standouts is a monumental 28½-inch silver salver by John Mortimer & John Samuel Hunt, made in London in 1839. Its impressive scale recalls an era when elaborate silver services were essential expressions of hospitality, wealth and social standing. Additional baskets, candlesticks and covered serving dishes further demonstrate the variety of forms created for the British table.
Across the Atlantic, American silversmiths were developing their own traditions of craftsmanship and innovation, often drawing on European influences while embracing increasingly elaborate sculptural designs.
Forty-five early Tiffany works bearing the marks of John C. Moore are a defining strength of the American selection. These pieces offer an opportunity to explore an important chapter in Tiffany's development through a substantial group of surviving works.
Among the most striking examples is a circa 1860 partially gilt footed bowl by J.C. Moore & Son adorned with applied lobsters. The sculptural decoration transforms a functional serving vessel into a work of art, demonstrating the imagination and craftsmanship invested in 19th-century American table silver.
The inventive nature and wonderful sense of personality exhibited by the auction's Tiffany works is equally evident in the selection of early figural silver by Gorham Mfg. Co., including an elaborate standing centerpiece made in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1867.
Later in the 19th century, Tiffany & Co. remained at the forefront of innovation, as demonstrated by three circa 1880 cups featured on the auction catalog's cover. Though each displays a distinctive approach to decoration - from bold enameled roundels to intricate mokume metalwork and an applied lotus motif - all three bear the same flowing "JSL" monogram, which certainly belonged to a preeminent Tiffany client.
The theatrical possibilities of the table are showcased throughout the auction, from a pair of silver-plated Grand Tour urns modeled after the Roman kantharos to a large neoclassical silver-plated and cut-glass architectural centerpiece dating to the third quarter of the 19th century and measuring more than 43 inches across. There is also a striking six-piece Viennese garniture by Rudolf Steiner and Heinrich Dittrich featuring ram's-head mounts and coordinated decorative elements.
The auction's international offerings further demonstrate the remarkable range of artistic approaches to silver.
A Mario Buccellati ewer and basin, made in Milan during the 20th century, combines richly worked silver with a delicate coral handle terminating in a sculptural mask. From China comes an export silver cup retailed by Wang Hing and featuring fanciful dragon handles. A fluted silver vase by Austrian designer Josef Hoffmann introduces a different design vocabulary and another rewarding direction for collectors.
