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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 religiously tolerant 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

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 10 parts.

  • Candelabrum
  • Stand
  • Drip Pan
  • Drip Pan
  • Drip Pan
  • Drip Pan
  • Socket
  • Socket
  • Socket
  • Socket
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 trelliswork on 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 is of square section above a compressed spherical knop and is chased with panels of scalework on punched matted ground, with shells at the shoulders. The vase-shaped socket is chased with swirling leaves and scrolls on similar ground. Four branches radiate from a central baluster of octagonal section chased with panels of trelliswork, 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.
Dimensions
  • Height: 32.3cm
  • Approx. width: 33cm
  • Approx. depth: 33cm
  • Weight: 2400g
Updated with measurements taken 18/08/08
Marks and inscriptions
  • London hallmark for 1731-2
  • Britannia standard
  • Mark of Paul de Lamerie
  • Engraved with a crest for Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676-1745) and the badge of the Order of the Garter
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.
Subjects depicted
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 religiously tolerant 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.
Bibliographic references
  • Schroder, Timothy. The Gilbert collection of gold and silver, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1988, cat. no. 50, pp. 204-6. ISBN.0875871445
  • Jackson, Charles James. An Illustrated History of English Plate, Ecclesiastical and Secular. London: Country Life/B.T. Batsford, 2 Vols. 1911. Reprint. New York: Dover Publications, 1969, vol. 1, p. 289, fig. 311.
  • Phillips, P.A.S. Paul de Lamerie, citizen and goldsmith of London: A study of his life and work, 1688-1757. London: B.T. Batsford, 1935, pl. LXXIX.
  • Christie's bi-centenary review of the year 1965-66. London: Hutchinson, pp.126-27.
  • Grimwade, Arthur. Rococo Silver, 1727-1765. London: Faber and Faber, 1974, p. 56, pl. 77. ISBN.0671105262
  • Old silver-work : chiefly English from the XVth to the XVIIIth centuries : a catalogue of the unique loan collection exhibited in 1902 at St. James Court London, London : B.T. Batsford ; New York : S. Buckley, 1903 pl. 114
Other numbers
  • SG 92 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • 1996.998 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
  • GB 215 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • 1998.17 - The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.691:1 to 10-2008

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Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
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