A Huguenot George II silver coffee pot, by Samuel Courtauld I, London 1757
A Huguenot George II silver coffee pot, by Samuel Courtauld I, London 1757
An important George II silver coffee pot by Samuel Courtauld, London 1757. Of raised baluster form, embossed scroll and fluted decoration, cast leaf capped spout, the hinged cover with a fluted acorn finial, and gadroon border, on a raised circular foot with a gadroon border, in a later fitted presentation case, by Richard Parsons.
Clearly hallmarked to the base for London 1757, with the maker's mark of Samuel Courtauld. The lid is hallmarked to the collar with the lion passant denoting sterling silver, along with Samuel Courtauld's maker's mark (partially rubbed).
The case carries a silver plaque bearing the inscription ' This George II silver coffee pot made by Samuel Courtauld in 1757 was presented to Sipko Huismans on 16 July 1996 by his colleagues on the Board of Courtaulds plc to mark his retirement after 35 years service including 12 years as a Director and 5 years as Chief Executive'.
This coffee pot is in very fine condition, with good provenance. The gauge of the silver is very good and the lid fits extremely well. The handle is firm with no cracks, chips or splits and the finial sits true.
This is a rare museum quality coffee pot of very good gauge and has a lovely colour and patina. It is made by one of the most highly regarded Huguenot silversmiths of the eighteenth century, and as he died at the age of 45, that of his work which has survived is very scarce indeed! His work is characterised by a mild rococo taste, attractively executed, of which this beautiful coffee pot is an exceedingly superb example.
The Courtauld family were renowned Huguenot silversmiths, they were highly influential in the evolution of English silver design and technique. Samuel Courtauld was apprenticed to his father Augustin in 1734 and subsequently registered his own mark in 1746 at the Goldsmith’s Hall, SC with the sun in splendour.
A similar example can be seen in the Courtauld collection showing an identical cast spout and similar decoration.
Height: 27.5cm or 11 inches
Weight: 820g or 28.9oz.
Provenance:
A Private Collection
George Kidner's Auctioneers, Lymington,
Sipko Huismans
Courtauld Plc, who purchased the pot for their collection in 1961.
Exhibited at The Museum of London Treasury Exhibition, April 1982 to May 1983.
