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John Edwards II
A George II silver Cake Basket, London 1731
Length: 13 ¾ inches (34.9 cm)
Weight: 90 oz 10 dwt (2,823 g)
Deep flaring oval, the foot chased with acanthus band below a foliate border pierced with animal heads, the everted sides pierced with diaperwork, the two raised scroll handles each set with a cast lion couchant regardant, the base border engraved with an Earl's armorials and a crest.
The arms are those of Cecil impaling Chambers for Brownlow, 8th Earl of Exeter (1701-54) and his wife Hannah Sophia, who he married in 1724. Hannah Sophia was the daughter and co-heir of the prosperous merchant Thomas Chambers, and the marriage resolved the great debts left to the 8th Earl.
The 8th Earl made a number of important purchases from London's most renowned silversmiths. In 1724, he finally completed the purchase of a silver wine cooler by Phillip Rollos, which had been ordered by his grandfather, the 5th Earl, but had not been delivered due to lack of payment. In 1728, the Earl purchased a wine cistern and fountain by Thomas Farren. In 1731, he ordered a pair of silver baskets. The matching basket remains at Burghley House.
John Edwards served as subordinate goldsmith to the King from 1723-1742 and his mark can be found on a number of finely executed pieces, many with cast animal or marine creatures.
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| Provenance: |
Brownlow, 8th Earl of Exeter, by descent to William Alleyne, 3rd Marquess, sold Christie's, London, 7 June 1888, lot 16
Walter M. Jeffords Collection, sold Sotheby's, New York, 26 October 2005, lot 303
With Alastair Dickenson, London
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| Artist description: |
| Son of John Edwards of Oswestry Shropshire innholder, apprenticed to Thomas Prichard of the Grocers' Company 9 March 1708 for seven years, but did not take up his freedom till 7 November 1723, when the entry is witnessed by John Bache Citizen and Goldsmith. Signatory as journeyman to the petition against assaying the work of foreigners not having served seven years apprenticeship, February 1716. Two marks (Sterling and New Standard) entered as largeworker, in partnership with George Pitches, 6 December 1723. Address: St. Swithin's Lane, near Lombard Street. Third and fourth marks alone, 27 April 1724, when described as 'Grocer'. Fifth mark, 9 August 1739, same address, where Heal records him till 1753. A sixth mark, entered in new position, also reads John Edward, St. Swithin's Lane, 1 November 1753, but for the first time the signature of the Christian name reads John as against Jn for the previous entries. On the other hand the neat handwriting appears the same. We must, however, allow the possibility that this mark is that of a son. Edwards is probably the - Edwards, Subordinate Goldsmith to the King, who appears in the Jewel Office Records from 1723-1743 (Major General H.W.D. Sitwell, 'The Jewel Office and the Royal Goldsmiths', Arch Journal CXVII, p.154-55). John, son of John and Catherine Healy, lodger at Mr.Edwards, silversmith in the parish of St. Mary Woolnoth, was baptised in the same church, 9 February 1745, and Sarah and Dinah, twin daughters of Stephen and Sarah Willson, lodgers at Mr Edwards, the silversmith, baptised 27 May 1747, at the same. |
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