Live Auction 2591Important Silver and Objects of Vertu
A SET OF THREE GEORGE V SILVER-GILT GARNITURE FLASKS PRESENTED TO EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES
Lot 77 Property of a Chicago Family

A SET OF THREE GEORGE V SILVER-GILT GARNITURE FLASKS PRESENTED TO EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES

MARK OF GOLDSMITHS & SILVERSMITHS CO., LONDON, 1908-17

Closed19 October 2012

Price Realised

USD 122,500

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A SET OF THREE GEORGE V SILVER-GILT GARNITURE FLASKS PRESENTED TO EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES
MARK OF GOLDSMITHS & SILVERSMITHS CO., LONDON, 1908-17
Each of typical form, on gadrooned oval foot, the flattened pear-shaped body part-fluted at the neck and with gadrooned cut-card decoration at the base, the body applied with foliage and bacchic mask terminals hung with chains, the cover fluted and applied with scroll finial, the body engraved on one side with Royal arms and on the other with the arms of the city of London and a presentation inscription dated 1919, the largest flask dated 1917, the smaller flasks dated 1908 and 1910, in a fitted wooden and velvet case, marked on bodies, covers, and chains
The largest 22½ in. (57.1 cm.) high; 384 oz. 10 dwt. (11.965 gr.) (3)

HRH Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII and after 1937 The Duke of Windsor, by gift to
Nathan Cummings (1896-1985) of Chicago, New York, and Palm Beach, founder of the Sara Lee Corporation, art collector, and philanthropist; thence by descent to his grandson, the present owner.

These flasks were presented to The Duke of Windsor as Prince of Wales by the City of London on the occasion of his receiving the Freedom of the City. Typically the Freedom is presented with a small box engraved with the arms of the city of London; for this Royal recipient, the city engraved its arms on one side of three large flasks, and the Prince's Royal arms on the other.

Following his abdication in 1936, the Duke of Windsor spent a great deal of time in Palm Beach, Newport, and New York. During the late 1940s and '50s, he befriended Nathan Cummings, founder of Consolidated Foods (later Sara Lee Corporation) and fellow resident of the Waldorf in New York, and these flasks were given to Cummings during those years.
A set of three flasks of this model was sold in these Rooms, 20 October 1998, lot 276

Specialist note

The presentation inscription reads:

Presented by
The Corporation of the City of London
to
HRH The Prince of Wales KG
on the occasion of his admission to
The Freedom of the City
29th May 1919


[Photo caption]
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, circa 1950
Photograph by Carl J. Schmid, Miami, Florida
Christie's Images