THe Merchant of Venice: A Victorian silver embossed plaque, Léonard Morel-Ladeuil for Elkington & Co., Birmingham, signed 1885

chased and embossed with the trial scene from the Merchant of Venice, mounted in an iron frame damascened with gold strapwork and flowers, also mounted in silver with a profile of Shakespeare supported by two putti holding a wreath, the sides with silver panels of swords and balance scales, the angles with music and theater trophies in embossed iron, all mounted on an oak panel

silver in good condition, iron with slight traces of rust, two screws missing from back
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Accompanied by a handwritten statement: "We certify that this Placque, subject, the trial scene from "The Merchant of Venice", executed entirely by hand in repoussé iron and silver, by M. Morel-Ladeuil one of the principal artists to Elkington & Co Ld in the year 1885 is the original work." Elkington & Co Ld C.B.Read, Secretary

Leonard Morel-Ladeuil (1820-1888) was one of the leading metalwork artists of the nineteenth century, notable for his figural repoussé work. He studied chasing and damascening from the master chaser, Antoine Vechte, and learned sculptural techniques from J. Feuchères. In 1859, he moved to England, where he worked for Elkington & Co. for nearly 30 years. His commissions for international exhibitions received considerable acclaim and were integral to raising the profile of Elkington & Co. Although he was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1878, it was not until a year after his death that Morel-Ladeuil's work was the subject of a retrospective at the Union des Arts Décoratifs, and later, a monograph entitled L'Oeuvre de Morel-Ladeuil Sculpteur-Ciséleur 1820-1888.

Toward the end of his career, Morel-Ladeuil created an important series of Shakespeare inspired plaques. The first, entitled The Merry Wives of Windsor, was commissioned circa 1880 by Sir Albert Sassoon as a wedding present for the Duke of Albany - a pun on the marriage of the Queen's son, then living at Windsor. The present lot and another, entitled Much Ado about Nothing, likely were inspired by the celebrated Shakespearean productions starring Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terry. Both of these plaques were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1885 and the retrospective of Morel-Ladeuil's work in 1889. While a number of Morel-Ladeuil's plaques served as models for mass-produced electrotype reproductions, both plaques are highly significant as they are the original work of art, remaining with Elkington & Co. until the firm was liquidated in 1973. The companion plaque, Much Ado about Nothing, is now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.