Lot 246
A pair of German silver Royal table candlesticks
Auction: 1 December 2009 at 11:00 GMT
Description
with marks for Balthazar Friedrich Behrens, circa 1740, the shaped square bases with rounded corners, the baluster column of octagonal form, and knopped, leaf clasped and each engraved with the Royal Coat of Arms and GII cypher to the underside of the nozzles
Dimensions
23cm high, 31oz each
Footnote
The arms of King George II of England and Elector of Hanover 1727-1760
Engraved with stick and nozzle numbers
Provenance;
By descent in the Royal family of Great Britain and Hanover to the death of King William IV in 1837, when the two kingdoms became separate under different monarchs. Ernest Augustus, 1st Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover (r.1837-1851), fifth son of King George III of Great Britain and brother of King William IV.
By descent to his grandson the Duke of Brunswick (1845-1923)
Sold as a group privately to the Vienna dealers Gluckselig in 1924.
Note;
Generally known as part of a set of 72 candlesticks delivered circa 1735 to Herrenhausen, the Hanover palace of King George II of England and Elector of Hanover (r.1727-1760).
Much of the Hanover Royal plate remained at Herrenhausen until shortly after the Seven Weeks war in 1866. During the war the Palace was looted by Prussian troops but the Royal Plate survived in a hidden vault. George Frederick, King of Hanover was deposed and the family was deprived of the title of Kings and were, thereafter referred to as the Dukes of Brunswick. They settled in Austria and the silver was moved to Penzing near Vienna and the Duke's villa at Gmunden. Following the death of George Frederick's son, Ernest Augustus in 1923 a considerable part of the Hanover silver, both German and English, was purchased by the Viennese dealer Gluckselig and it appears to have been, at least in part, resold to London dealers Crichton brothers.
Balthazar Friedrich Behrens (1701-1760) His most famous productions were the five chandeliers after designs by the English architect, William Kent that he supplied to the court at Herrenhausen, in 1736 and 1737. One was sold by Christie's Monaco, 4th December 1993 lot 95 and was part of the Hubert de Givenchy collection