Caster
1740-1741 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This caster (one of a pair, museum number M.114&B-1978) was copied almost exactly from a model by the French goldsmith Thomas Germain which used to be the third vessel of the set. The latter is now in the United States. The casters illustrate well the French predilection for bold, almost sculptural detail, similar patterns being used for both furniture mounts and goldsmiths' work. There is a still life painting in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs (Signboard for a Silversmith, by F. Desportes, about 1735) which shows two more identical casters, presumably by Germain, together with a silver soup tureen.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Engraved silver |
| Brief description | Silver, English Silver, English |
| Physical description | Silver caster, one of a pair, Engraved with a crest identified as that of John Monckton, Viscount Galway (d. 1751). |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Crest identified as that of John Monckton, Viscount Galway (d. 1751), created viscount in 1727. His principal seat was Serby Hall, Notts. (Crest identified by Michael Holmes) |
| Object history | This pair of casters was copied almost exactely from a model by the French goldsmith Thomas Germain which used to be the third vessel of the set. The latter is now in the USA. The castors illustrate well the French predilection for bold, almost sculptural detail, similar patterns being used for both furniture mounts and goldsmiths' work. There is a still-life painting in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs (Signboard for a Silversmith (?), by F. Desportes, ca. 1735) which shows two more identical casters, presumably by Germain, together with a silver soup tureen. Crest identified by Michael Holmes as that of John Monckton, Viscount Galway (d. 1751), created viscount in 1727. His principal seat was Serby Hall, Notts. |
| Summary | This caster (one of a pair, museum number M.114&B-1978) was copied almost exactly from a model by the French goldsmith Thomas Germain which used to be the third vessel of the set. The latter is now in the United States. The casters illustrate well the French predilection for bold, almost sculptural detail, similar patterns being used for both furniture mounts and goldsmiths' work. There is a still life painting in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs (Signboard for a Silversmith, by F. Desportes, about 1735) which shows two more identical casters, presumably by Germain, together with a silver soup tureen. |
| Bibliographic reference | Burlington Magazine, May 1989, pp 385-92, fig IX |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.114A, C-1978 |
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| Record created | February 23, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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