The Duke of York, second son of King George III, spends without limits and loves the heroic antiquity that flatters his brilliant military career in the Napoleonic wars. The antique dealer Kensington Lewis took advantage of the weakness of this prince to procure him at very high prices extravagant pieces of silverware that are made in London by Edward Farrell.
On March 22 in London, Christie's sells a centerpiece in massive silver gilt on the theme of Hercules' victorious fight against the Lernaean Hydra, marked by Farrell in 1824, lot 200 estimated £ 400K.
This group 89 cm high weighing 35 kg showing Hercules in full action was made in the taste of the baroque silverware from Augsburg. Hercules draped with the skin of the lion dominates, helped by his nephew Iolaus. The nine heads of the monster serve as candle-holders in an irregular circumference. The artist did not omit the giant crab that attempts a counterattack on the leg of the hero.
Presumptive heir to the throne since 1820, the duke died in January 1827, leaving a debt so large that its evaluation was impossible. His estate is immediately auctioned by Christie's. The Hercules, which appears to be Lewis' most important piece of silverware in that sale, was not in the fashion of George IV style. Its very low result is a disavowal for Lewis who had lost his naive customer and will soon go bankrupt.
SOLD for £ 1.04M including premium
On March 22 in London, Christie's sells a centerpiece in massive silver gilt on the theme of Hercules' victorious fight against the Lernaean Hydra, marked by Farrell in 1824, lot 200 estimated £ 400K.
This group 89 cm high weighing 35 kg showing Hercules in full action was made in the taste of the baroque silverware from Augsburg. Hercules draped with the skin of the lion dominates, helped by his nephew Iolaus. The nine heads of the monster serve as candle-holders in an irregular circumference. The artist did not omit the giant crab that attempts a counterattack on the leg of the hero.
Presumptive heir to the throne since 1820, the duke died in January 1827, leaving a debt so large that its evaluation was impossible. His estate is immediately auctioned by Christie's. The Hercules, which appears to be Lewis' most important piece of silverware in that sale, was not in the fashion of George IV style. Its very low result is a disavowal for Lewis who had lost his naive customer and will soon go bankrupt.
SOLD for £ 1.04M including premium
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