Live Auction 2737Important Silver
A FINE GEORGE II SILVER CAKE BASKET
Lot 107 Silver by Paul de Lamerie (Lots 107-115)

Property from the Estate of Robert P. Eaton

A FINE GEORGE II SILVER CAKE BASKET

MARK OF PAUL DE LAMERIE, LONDON, 1739

Closed23 October 2013

Price Realised

USD 245,000

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A FINE GEORGE II SILVER CAKE BASKET
MARK OF PAUL DE LAMERIE, LONDON, 1739
Of large size; shaped-oval, on four cast feet in the form of bearded masks with scrolls and shells issuing from their mouths, with openwork floral garlands between, the everted sides pierced and engraved with foliage and scrolls, with an elaborately cast openwork border with rocaille, stylized sea monster heads, and four masks representing the Four Seasons, the center flat-chased with foliage on a matted ground and scrolls enclosing an engraved lozenge-of-arms within foliate scroll mantling, the overhead swing handle applied with grapevine and foliage, marked on base, also with scratchweight 77=17
15¾ in. (40 cm.) long; 77 oz. 10 dwt. (2,402 gr.)

Susanna Gregory (c. 1704-1781), then by descent to
William Gregory Williams (1742-1814)
Gregory Williams Gregory (1786-1854)
George Gregory (1776-1860)
Sir Glynn E. Welby-Gregory, 3rd Baronet (1806-1875)
Sir William E. Welby-Gregory, 4th Baronet (1829-1898)
Sir Charles G. E. Welby, 5th Baronet (1865-1938), as part of the Gregory Heirlooms, sold
Christie's, London, 27 June 1900, lot 26
The Collection of Lady Alice Sedgwick Mankiewicz Wernher Ludlow
The Estate of Lady Ludlow, sold Christie's, London, 15 October 1946, lot 70
Partridge Fine Arts
Brand Inglis, 1980

Specialist note

The arms are those of Gregory, as borne by Susanna Gregory (c. 1704-1781), daughter of George Gregory (d. 1746), High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and MP for Nottingham and Boroughbridge, and his wife Susanna Williams (d. 1755), daughter and heiress of John Williams of Rempston (d. 1704). The Williams inheritance, including estates in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, was divided by Susanna Williams between her eldest son George Gregory (d. 1758) and her daughter Susanna, owner of this basket. On their father's death, her brother's share of the Williams inheritance passed to her, as well as additional estates following the death of a cousin in 1755.

Susanna Gregory died unmarried in 1781. Her will names her nephew William Gregory Williams (d. 1814) as executor and heir to "all [her] household goods and furniture, silver plate, china, linen goods, chattels, personal estate and effects whatsoever."

The present basket stands out among Lamerie's baskets of 1739-1742 in its large size, heavy weight, and pierced border. Mask feet of this model appear on an example of 1739 from the collection of Benjamin Edwards, sold Christie's, New York, 26 January 2010, lot 168.