Candelabrum
1731-1732 (hallmarked)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This candelabrum and its pair are among the earliest known silver candelabra made in Britain. They were made for Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676-1745) and are engraved with his crest and the motto of the Order of the Garter. Later acquired by a celebrated collector of Huguenot silver, Lord Swaythling, they were recognised by his grandson in Sir Arthur Gilbert's Californian home.
When the Catholic King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Huguenots (French Protestants) were forced to leave the country. Many were craftsmen who settled in London. Their technical skills and fashionable French style ensured the luxury silver, furniture, watches and jewellery they made were highly sought after. Huguenot specialists transformed English silver by introducing higher standards of craftsmanship. They promoted new forms, such as the soup tureen and sauceboat, and introduced a new repertoire of ornament, with cast sculptural details and exquisite engraving.
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.
When the Catholic King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Huguenots (French Protestants) were forced to leave the country. Many were craftsmen who settled in London. Their technical skills and fashionable French style ensured the luxury silver, furniture, watches and jewellery they made were highly sought after. Huguenot specialists transformed English silver by introducing higher standards of craftsmanship. They promoted new forms, such as the soup tureen and sauceboat, and introduced a new repertoire of ornament, with cast sculptural details and exquisite engraving.
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.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 10 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Raised, cast (and applied), chased, punched and engraved silver (Britannia standard). |
| Brief description | Silver candelabrum, London hallmarks for 1731-32, mark of Paul de Lamerie |
| Physical description | The candelabrum stands on a square base with incurved angles, with a stepped border chased with shells and trellis work on a punched matted ground and with four applied trophies composed of a shell, scrolls, a frond, and a torch; the domed centre of the base is chased with scalework and stylised leaves within a plain sunken surround. The tapering stem becomes squared above a compressed spherical knop and is chased with panels of scalework on a punched matted ground, with shells at the shoulders. The vase-shaped socket is chased with swirling leaves and scrolls on a similar ground. Four branches radiate from a central octagonal baluster section chased with panels of trellis work, foliage and ovolo ornament; each branch is of double scroll form, chased with foliage and terminating in a plain vase-shaped socket and shaped circular wax pan with a scroll, foliage and matted border. The base and a number of the wax pans are engraved with a crest and the badge of the Order of the Garter. |
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| Gallery label | (Gallery 71, case 4)
6, 10. Pair of candelabra
1731–32
These are among the earliest known silver candelabra made in Britain. They were produced for Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. They were later bought by a keen collector of Huguenot silver, Samuel Montagu, first Lord Swaythling (1832–1911).
London, England; Paul de Lamerie (1688–1751)
Silver
Engraved with the armorial crest of Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676–1745), and the motto of the Order of the Garter
Museum nos. Loan:Gilbert.690:1 to 10, 691:1 to 10-2008(16/11/2016) |
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Sir Robert Walpole, first earl of Orford (1676-1745). Lord Revelstoke, sale, Christie's, lot 82, 27 June, 1893. The Rt. Hon. Samuel Montagu, 1st Baron Swaythling. By descent to the 3rd Baron Swaythling; sale, Christie's, lot 26, 06/05/1924. Sale, Christie's, lot 27, 23/03/1966. Purchased from Bulgari, Rome, 1977. |
| Historical context | Sets of silver candelabra were used to support expensive wax candles and to light the dining table. There are descriptions of Robert Walpole's entertainments at his country home, Houghton Hall, Norfolk, where he entertained his political colleagues during summer holidays and invited his friends for hunting during the winter months. The burnished and chased silver sparkled in the reflected candlelight which enhanced the richly furnished Marble Parlour at Houghton where Walpole hosted his dinner parties. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | This candelabrum and its pair are among the earliest known silver candelabra made in Britain. They were made for Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676-1745) and are engraved with his crest and the motto of the Order of the Garter. Later acquired by a celebrated collector of Huguenot silver, Lord Swaythling, they were recognised by his grandson in Sir Arthur Gilbert's Californian home. When the Catholic King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Huguenots (French Protestants) were forced to leave the country. Many were craftsmen who settled in London. Their technical skills and fashionable French style ensured the luxury silver, furniture, watches and jewellery they made were highly sought after. Huguenot specialists transformed English silver by introducing higher standards of craftsmanship. They promoted new forms, such as the soup tureen and sauceboat, and introduced a new repertoire of ornament, with cast sculptural details and exquisite engraving. 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. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.690:1 to 10-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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