- 609
Paul de Lamerie, 1688-1751
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
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Description
- A Unique Coffee Pot from Paul de Lamerie's Family Collection
- hallmarked London, 1749
- silver and wicker
- height: 17.7cm., 7in.; weight all in: 382gr., 12oz 6dwt.
quilted lower section, engraved with the coat of arms of de Lamerie
Provenance
Sotheby's, London, 11 November 1993, lot 420
Condition
clearly marked on body and cover, some overall wear to highlights and engraving, wicker binding later
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Paul de Lamerie is supreme among the goldsmiths of early eighteenth century London for the longevity of his reputation. By constrast with his contemporaries- Paul Crespin, David Willaume or George Wickes – who faded until their rediscovery in the 20th century, the name of de Lamerie remained synonymous in the 19th century with the finest old English plate in way that the best Renaissance plate was the work of `Celini’.
This coffee pot is known to have been in private hands since some time in the 1940s, when it was purchased by the present owners' mother from, it is believed, a jeweller's shop in Northamptonshire. It was treasured by its new owner not because of the maker's mark but because it was useful and attractive. Nothing is known for sure of the coffee pot's whereabouts and travels during the two centuries previous to the 1940s.
The arms on this coffee pot, the only recorded piece of de Lamerie family silver, is in a Lozenge-shaped cartouche, indicate, that it belonged to a Lady. The possible owners would have been Paul de Lamerie’s wife who, following her husband's death in 1751, may have selected it from the remaining stock of the business prior to sale at auction at Langford's, or one of the goldsmith’s three daughters. These were (Susan) Mary (1720-1810) who married John Malliet on 11 November 1754; Susannah (1729-1803), who married Joseph Debaufre on 29 March 1750 and Louisa Elizabeth (1730-1761), who remained unmarried. Of these four, the latter Louisa Elizabeth is the most probable, as the other married women would have been unlikely to display their armorials in such a fashion. While each of these four left wills in which they either acknowledge or hint at the ownership of their own private collections of plate and jewels, it is in Louisa Elizabeth’s will, as the first item, where it specifies ` I leave and bequeath to Elizabeth Ourry a small coffee pot and silver milk sauce pan, likewise two round Stone-rings with Roses…. ‘(Public Record Office, PROB11/869/347).
Who was Elisabeth Ourry, to whom Louisa Elizabeth de Lamerie left her coffee pot? Her family were from Blois, and like the de Lameries, to whom they were closely connected also Huguenots. Louis Simon Ourry (1717-1779) was also a goldsmith. He was apprenticed to Augustine Courtauld, becoming free and entering his mark in London in 1740 (trading from New street near Covent Garden) His undated will and codicil was sworn by John Malliet, Paul de Lamerie’s son-in-law, in 1779 (PROB11/1055/315). Louis Simon’s brother Paul Henry Ourry (1719-1783) was married to Charity Treby, eldest daughter of one of Paul de Lamerie’s great clients the Rt. Hon. George Treby MP (1727-1805). His toilet set by de Lamerie is in the Asmolean Museum, Oxford. Elizabeth Ourry would have been either Louis Simon’s wife (nee Mott, died 1786) or more probably his sister Elizabeth (1725-1811). She became Mrs Beuzeville on her marriage to the Rev. Samuel Beuzeville and in her will dated 1806 she directed `I give to my Grand daughter Mary Julia Lempriere a silver coffee pot with the gilted {sic} Server belonging to it…’ Mary Julia died later that year whereupon Mrs Beuzeville altered her will by codicil dated 24 December 1806 `I now dispose of the Legacy I had given to her in said will in the following manner I give to….my Grand daughter Caroline (Charity) the Silver Coffee pot with the Server…’(Public Record Office, PROB11/1520/107). Charity Lempriere survived until her own death on 13th June 1886, in the house of her Nephew Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert KCB (1831-1905) at Ickleton, Cambridgeshire. By her will, eventually sworn at a little over £7600, her estate consisting of money, stocks and shares was divided equally between various nieces and nephews (Family Division, Somerset House)
This coffee pot is known to have been in private hands since some time in the 1940s, when it was purchased by the present owners' mother from, it is believed, a jeweller's shop in Northamptonshire. It was treasured by its new owner not because of the maker's mark but because it was useful and attractive. Nothing is known for sure of the coffee pot's whereabouts and travels during the two centuries previous to the 1940s.
The arms on this coffee pot, the only recorded piece of de Lamerie family silver, is in a Lozenge-shaped cartouche, indicate, that it belonged to a Lady. The possible owners would have been Paul de Lamerie’s wife who, following her husband's death in 1751, may have selected it from the remaining stock of the business prior to sale at auction at Langford's, or one of the goldsmith’s three daughters. These were (Susan) Mary (1720-1810) who married John Malliet on 11 November 1754; Susannah (1729-1803), who married Joseph Debaufre on 29 March 1750 and Louisa Elizabeth (1730-1761), who remained unmarried. Of these four, the latter Louisa Elizabeth is the most probable, as the other married women would have been unlikely to display their armorials in such a fashion. While each of these four left wills in which they either acknowledge or hint at the ownership of their own private collections of plate and jewels, it is in Louisa Elizabeth’s will, as the first item, where it specifies ` I leave and bequeath to Elizabeth Ourry a small coffee pot and silver milk sauce pan, likewise two round Stone-rings with Roses…. ‘(Public Record Office, PROB11/869/347).
Who was Elisabeth Ourry, to whom Louisa Elizabeth de Lamerie left her coffee pot? Her family were from Blois, and like the de Lameries, to whom they were closely connected also Huguenots. Louis Simon Ourry (1717-1779) was also a goldsmith. He was apprenticed to Augustine Courtauld, becoming free and entering his mark in London in 1740 (trading from New street near Covent Garden) His undated will and codicil was sworn by John Malliet, Paul de Lamerie’s son-in-law, in 1779 (PROB11/1055/315). Louis Simon’s brother Paul Henry Ourry (1719-1783) was married to Charity Treby, eldest daughter of one of Paul de Lamerie’s great clients the Rt. Hon. George Treby MP (1727-1805). His toilet set by de Lamerie is in the Asmolean Museum, Oxford. Elizabeth Ourry would have been either Louis Simon’s wife (nee Mott, died 1786) or more probably his sister Elizabeth (1725-1811). She became Mrs Beuzeville on her marriage to the Rev. Samuel Beuzeville and in her will dated 1806 she directed `I give to my Grand daughter Mary Julia Lempriere a silver coffee pot with the gilted {sic} Server belonging to it…’ Mary Julia died later that year whereupon Mrs Beuzeville altered her will by codicil dated 24 December 1806 `I now dispose of the Legacy I had given to her in said will in the following manner I give to….my Grand daughter Caroline (Charity) the Silver Coffee pot with the Server…’(Public Record Office, PROB11/1520/107). Charity Lempriere survived until her own death on 13th June 1886, in the house of her Nephew Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert KCB (1831-1905) at Ickleton, Cambridgeshire. By her will, eventually sworn at a little over £7600, her estate consisting of money, stocks and shares was divided equally between various nieces and nephews (Family Division, Somerset House)