akg8279659
MAGNIFICENT SILVER GEORGE III TUREEN WITH HIPPOCAMPUS ON PRESENTOIR. London. 1806-07. Paul Storr. Silver. On round foot with gadroon decor, bulbous body. The strong handles with reed decor and acanthus decor setting in lion heads. Over slightly protruding rim with gadroon decor and flatly arched and once receeding slip lid. The finial worked in the form of a hippocamp. On the inside a smooth inlet with small handles. The large presentoir with round basic form and strong advancing handles, again with acanthus decor. The centre slightly raised and accentuated by gadroons. On the lid, bowl and presentoir each one rising hippocamp delicately engraved. On the bottom of the tureen's foot inventory N.1 and 'scratch weight' 151.16 engraved, on the bottom of the presentoirs accordingly also N.1 as well as 117.19. Ca. 9190g. Total height 34.5 cm. Tureen: Height 31 cm, width 42 cm. Presentoir: 50 x 42.5cm. Tureen and presentoir: Inspection mark London 1806-07. Lid and insert: Lion Passant and year 1806-07. Mentioned pieces all with maker's mark Paul Storr (from 1793, Grimwade no.2234). Finial in th form of a seahorse: Inspection mark with Victoria Duty Mark and Lion Passant, maker's mark Charles Frederick Hancock (London, from 1850). Condition B. Provenance: - Paul Graf Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht. German ambassador in London from 1901 to 1912. - Due to inheritance in family property until today. Literature:- The Lillian and Morrie Moss Collection of Paul Storr silver, Miami 1972. A hot water urn by Paul Storr with ascending hippocamp as in the case of the tureen presented here is described and portraied on p. 114f.- Schroder, Timothy B.: The Gilbert collection of Gold and Silver, Los Angeles Museum of Art 1987-88, Los Angeles 1987, p.371-374.Here the hot water urn mentioned above is listed and the coat of arms is identified as that of Clarke of Lincolnshire.Paul Graf Wolff-Metternich zur Gracht started his diplomatic carreer in 1882. From 1904 until 1912 he held office as German embassador in London where he was held in great esteem. Last but not least, he was nominated the 'Man of the Day' by 'Vanity Fair' in March 1912 and his portrait of Sir Leslie Ward (1851-1922) was published in the 649th edition.Silversmith of the aristocracy - His fame was especially indebted to the mastery and the implementation of the German neoclassicist style which developed during the time of the Regency. Even George III and George IV were among his clientele. Art trade, Van Ham.
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