Silver, English

A silver-gilt helmet-shaped ewer with a cast female term handle and an applied cast helmeted male mask under the spout. The upper profile of the ewer is repeated in the applied rope twist moulding which divides the body of the ewer into tow sections. The lower section has applied cut card foliate and shell decoration. Beneath the mask the engraved coat of arms ermine on a fess sable, a castle triple towered represents Richard Hill (1655-1727) of Hawkstone, Shropshire.

Given by Joseph Bond

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.

The small proportions of the ewer euggest that it formed part of a larger toilet service but as Richard Hill never married, the ewer may have been displayed on a buffet or used with a basin for washing with rosewater before or after dining. In addition to the family propery in Shropshire, Howksonte, Richard Hill lived at Cleveland Court,St James's, London, had a house at Richmond, and from 1714 chambers at Eton College.

Hill enjoyed public office as a lord of the Treasury from 1699 to 1702 and served as a lord of the Admiralty from 1702 to 1708. In 1696 he was sent as envoy to Brussels and William III sent him to Turin in 1699 to congratulate Victor Amadeus II, duke of Savoy, and his duchess, respectively second and first cousins of both William and Mary, on the birth of an heir. He had little taste for the envoy's life abroad, complaining that 'there is neither beef, nor veal, nor mutton which an Englishman can eat' (M. Lane, The Nineteenth Century, 1927, 562), but his 'clear parts, ... his easy access and affable way', as well as his being 'a favourite with both parties' (Memoirs of the Secret Services, 145) fitted him for diplomatic life. In 1703 Queen Anne sent him again to Turin, via The Hague, where he laid his plans with the Dutch to bring the duke of Savoy into the War of the Spanish Succession against Louis XIV.

Reference: ODNB biography of Richard Hill

Object Type
The design of the ewer is based on an inverted Roman helmet. It was introduced into English silver by Huguenot craftsmen in the late 17th century.

Ewers were used to hold water and were usually accompanied by basins. They were set out on the sideboard in a dining room, or formed part of a large, elaborate toilet service. The female triton, or mermaid, forming the handle and the shells on the body of the ewer are appropriate to its function as a water vessel.

Style
The decoration of the ewer is typical of the Baroque style. It includes foliate cut-card work around the bottom of the vessel, with a scrolling arcade above and a helmeted mask below the lip. The use of gadrooning, as seen in the bands on the foot, stem and body, is also a noted feature of Huguenot work.

This French-inspired style was popular throughout Europe. It became known from the many prints by such masters of ornamental design as Jean Berain, Daniel Marot and Jean Le Pautre. The style was successfully applied to interior design, garden design, plasterwork, ironwork, furniture, ceramics, upholstery as well as silver.

822-1890