Live Auction 2259Important Objects of Vertu, English, Continental and American Silver
Christie’s roundel
Lot 106 PROPERTY FROM A SAN FRANCISCO COLLECTION

A GERMAN SILVER HOT WATER URN

MARK OF JOHANN HEINRICH FRIEDRICH VIOL, HAMBURG, CIRCA 1821

Closed22 May 2009

Price Realised

USD 32,500

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A GERMAN SILVER HOT WATER URN
MARK OF JOHANN HEINRICH FRIEDRICH VIOL, HAMBURG, CIRCA 1821
Of exceptionally heavy gauge, on shaped square base with stiff-leaf border and ball feet, four trident-entwined dolphins supporting a circular hot water urn with applied grapevine band and griffins centering an owl and oil lamp, the entwined snake handles with Mercury mask joins, with everted stiff leaf neck, the domed cover with swan finial, the spigot modeled as a dog, the mother-of-pearl tap supported by addorsed dolphins, the burner formed as an oil lamp, the urn with inscription and with crest, marked on base, cover bezel
20¼in. (51.5 cm.) high; 318 oz. (9,015 gr.) gross weight

Specialist note

The presentation inscription translates roughly as follows:

To Senator Amandus Augustus Abendroth, civil servant of Ritzebüttel, as a thankful memento from the the inhabitants of the town, 1821.

Amandus Augustus Abendroth (1767-1842) studied law and practiced in Hamburg where he was elected Alderman in 1800. Abendroth became govenor of Ritzebüttel in 1809. In 1810, Ritzebüttel was affected by Napoleon's annexation of much of north Germany, and Abendroth became maire of the town under French rule.

After the defeat of Napoleon, Abendroth returned to Hamburg as head of police, and was elected mayor of Hamburg in 1831.