Monteiths were made between 1680 and 1730, and were perhaps used for cooling glasses. These earlier vessels inspired the form of this piece, with its notched rim. This example's eclectic ornament, however, draws on a range of 19th century and earlier sources.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Physical description
Silver-gilt bowl on a shaped circular foot pierced and chased with a lion mask, dragon, dolphin, scrolls and foliage, the body of bulbous form with two friezes in high relief of classical battle scenes, the handles formed as soldiers climbing trees. The detachable rim of the bowl, modelled with ten pierced and chased vignettes of ancient warriors engaged in combat above a frieze of fruit and animals.
Place of Origin
London, England (assayed)
Date
1820-1821 (hallmarked)
Artist/maker
Farrell, Edward, born 1779 - died 1850 (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Raised, cast, embossed, pierced, chased and engraved silver-gilt
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed to Colonel Charles Moreland from his brother officers on his retirement in 1828: 'Presented to Colonel Charles Morland by his Brother Officers on his Retirement / from the Command of the 9th Lancers which he has held 15 years / 13th April, 1828'
London hallmarks for 1820-1
Stamped on the base: Lewis Silversmith to H.R.H. the Duke of York St James's St.
Mark of Edward Farrell
Sterling standard
Duty stamp
'LEWIS SILVERSMITH TO H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK ST JAMES'S ST'
Dimensions
Height: 39.2 cm, Width: 40.5 cm, Weight: 7152 g
Object history note
Provenance: H.R.H. Frederick, Duke of York, sale, Christie's, lot 71, March 19, 1827. Lt. Col. Charles Morland. Sale, Sotheby's, lot 169, June 15, 1978.
Descriptive line
Silver-gilt monteith, London hallmarks for 1820-21, mark of Edward Farrell
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Art at Auction: The Year at Sotheby Parke Bernet 1977-78. London; New York: Sotheby & Co. [etc], p. 292.
Brett, Vanessa. The Sotheby's Directory of Silver, 1600-1940. London: Sotheby's Publications, 1986, no. 1243.
Schroder, Timothy. The Gilbert collection of gold and silver, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1988, cat. no. 117, pp. 434-7. ISBN.0875871445
Schroder, Timothy, ed. The Gilbert Collection at the V&A. London (V&A Publishing) 2009, p. 45, pl. 30. ISBN9781851775934
Production Note
Edward Farrell for Kensington Lewis
Materials
Silver-gilt
Techniques
Gilding; Engraving (incising); Casting; Piercing; Chasing; Embossing; Raising
Subjects depicted
Birds; Trees; Foliage; Fruit; Scrolls; Dragons; Animals; Horses (animals); Swords; Arrows; Battles; Warriors; Dolphin (animal); Lion masks; Shields (armor); Friezes (ornamental bands); Bows (weapons); Spears (weapons)
Categories
Containers; Drinking; Metalwork
Collection code
MET
