A FINE PAIR OF GEORGE II SILVER CASTERS ATTRIBUTED TO PAUL DE LAMERIE

A FINE PAIR OF GEORGE II SILVER CASTERS ATTRIBUTED TO PAUL DE LAMERIE, C1735 of heavy gauge and baluster shape, the applied lambreqins in flat chased reserves with four angel heads at the moulded girdle, the domed, moulded foot chased with scrolling foliage, the cover with double baluster knop, one with a pierced liner, 16cm h, unmarked, 21ozs 14dwtsProvenance: Sir Glynne Earle Welby (later Welby-Gregory 3rd Bt., 1806-1875) of Denton, Lincolnshire or Gregory de Ligne Gregory (1786-1854) of Harlaxton Manor, Lincolnshire; thence by descent in the Welby family (until 2018).The present casters conform to a well documented de Lamerie model and virtually identical examples (at least one of which is the same 6¼ inches size) are illustrated P A S Phillips, Paul de Lamerie, 1935 (reprinted 1968) figs LXXXVIII, LXXXIX, XCX, CII and CIII. This, together with a distinguished provenance extending to the 19th c and a tantalising but strong link to one of the greatest 19th c collectors, point to de Lamerie's authorship.Unmarked or incompletely marked examples of de Lamerie silver is not unknown and although surviving inventories provide no conclusive evidence there is recorded in one a 658oz "Epergne" that incorporated "2 cruet stand plateaux with 3 cruets" which could conceivably have featured such casters. See Inventory of Articles (Heirlooms including Library and Works of Art) at Harlaxton New Manor House, 1864-66, 'Plate', No 36, National Archives, Kew MS190/1217.