A cast bracket formed of four panels; a pedestal supports a scrolled branch with nozzle and drip pan for the candle; the upper part is chased with a coat of arms surmounted by a crest and ducal coronet.

A sconce in bracket form, the bracket embossed and chased with the coat of arms of James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry, quarterly 1st and 4th, argent, a man's heart gules, ensigned with an imperial crown purpure on a chief azure, three stars of the field; 2nd and 3rd, Mar, all within a bordure or, charged with a double tressure flory, counterflory gules, with the motto FORWARD, the coat of arms encircled by the Garter ribband, with heraldic supporters two pegasi argent, winged or, crest, a heart gules winged and ensigned with an imperial crown or, and ducal coronet, the bracket supporting a candle arm with a later cylindrical silver frame to support a glass shade.

Purchased from Christie's 29 May 1963 lot 15.

Exhibitions: Loan Exhibition, 25 Park Lane 1929, No.780; the sconces were in the Brownlow Collection prior to the sale at Christie's 29th May 1963

Made in London by David Willaume the elder (born in Metz, France, 1658, died, probably in Tingrith, Bedfordshire, before 1741).Son of Adam Willaume goldsmith from Metz and Anne Philippe his wife, born 7 June 1658. Willaume I most likely learnt his trade from his father or another Metz goldsmith. His denization appears in State Papers, under date 16 December 1687, where the name is spelt Williamme (or Villiamme). Recorded at Windsor Castle, Charing Cross from 1686, by which time he probably reached London. He married Marie at the French Chapel of La Patente, Spitalfields, 19 October 1690. Marie was the daughter of Samuel Mettayer, Minister of that church and sister of Lewis Mattayer. Free by order of the Court of Aldermen as David Williams 27 January 1693/?4. Livery, October 1698. Court, February 1724/5. First mark as largeworker, undated, probably April 1697 on commencement of register. Address: ‘in pell-mell’. Second and third marks added to the first entry, 29 January 1719. Address: St. James’s Street. Fourth (Sterling) mark, 27 July 1720, same address. Recorded as David Willaume senior, goldsmith and banker, London, 1674-1712, of which the first date is erroneous; and at the sign of Windsor Castle, Charing Cross, 1686-9;and the sign of the Golden Ball, Pall Mall, 1697-1712. Was in St. James’ Street by January 1719 where he is recorded as keeping ‘running cashes’ (ie banking); the 1720 entry appears to be in his son’s hand, although he was not free until 1723, presumably acting for his father.
Willaume’s children were Anne, born 1691,who married the goldsmith David Tanqueray; David, born 1693, Adam born in 1694; Suzanne born in1696; the two younger children died in infancy. David Williaume makes frequent appearances in the Huguenot church registers of London as witness or godfather. He was an outstanding member of the Huguenot community.
He stood as godfather to David Surel at Hungerford Market Church, 5 August 1688, and ‘assisted’ at the marriage of his sister-in-law Marie Mettayer to Simon Gribelin, the engraver, 1 January 1691 at La Patente, Spitalfields.
Willaume seems to have retired about 1728 (when his son David II entered a mark distinctly different from his father’s) and purchased the Manor of Tingrith, Bedfordshire in 1730, where the family settled, inter-marrying with another Huguenot family theTanquerays and later being styled Tanqueray-Willaume. David WIllaume the elder died before 22 January 1741.
Willaume enjoyed the patronage of the wealthiest clients in England from the later part of the reign of William III to the end of George I’s reign. For further information on David Willaume the Elder see T. Murdoch, 'Autour des Willaume. Orfévres messins établis à Londres et Cassel', in Huguenots De la Moselle à Berlin, les Chemins de L'Exil, Editions Serpenoise, 2006 French edition of exhibition catalogue also published in German to coincide with the exhibition at the Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, 2006, pp.127-144.

Supplied for James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensbury probably for one of the state rooms at Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire.

The sconce is one of a pair from a larger set of four. The back is inscribed N3. The previous lot in the Christie's sale represented the two additional sconces from this set. Their current whereabouts is unknown.

One of a set four silver sconces of bracket form supporting a single candle arm decorated with the coat of arms, crest and coronet of James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry (1662-1711) of Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire. Such luxurious lighting equipment was supplied for use in the rooms of state equipped in readiness to receive the monarch. These sconces may have hung in the State Bedroom at Drumlanrig Castle. The armorials of the Duke of Queensberry could be easily seen in the candlelight and would serve as a symbol of the Duke's high social standing.

M.18-1963