Ernest, Duke of Cumberland: A Royal George III silver soup tureen, cover, stand and liner, Robert Sharp, London, 1798-99

Estimate

22,000 - 28,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

length over handles 19in. (48.3cm)

oval, partly lobed with gadroon borders, the conforming stand with raised center, the tureen and stand both engraved twice with the Royal Arms, the cover with conforming Royal Badge, the finial formed as a Royal Ducal coronet, fully marked except finial, engraved EDC and EAFs

Exhibited

Crichton Bros., London, 1924, "Old English Silver from the Duke of Cumberland's Collection."

Catalogue Note

Ernest Augustus (1771-1851) was the fifth son of George III and Queen Charlotte. From 1786 to 1799 he was in Germany, first at Gottingen university then in the Hanoverian army. On his return he was created Duke of Cumberland. This tureen was probably among the prince's earliest purchases of plate; his new position included an income of £12,000 a year and an apartment in St. James' Palace. The initials EDC, for Ernest Duke [of] Cumberland, appear on much of his early plate. The initials EAFs, standing for Ernest Augustus Feideikommiss, were added to items forming part of the entailed estate after he succeeded as King of Hanover in 1838. The silver collection went with the exiled Kings to Vienna in 1866, and part was sold through Crichton Brothers, London, in 1924.

A related pair of circular soup tureens of this model, by Sharp, 1792, also with the Cumberland arms and EAFs, was sold from the estate of Pauline E. Woolworth, Sotheby's, New York, 19 October 1994, lot 290.