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A Pair of George II Antique English Silver Sauceboats.

Each oval with scalloped rim, raised on three heraldic dolphin feet, and with a scrolling dolphin handle, engraved below the lip with a crest and under base with a scratch weight. 

The crest is that of Page for Sir Gregory Page, 2nd Baronet (c. 1695 - 1775). Sir Gregory was a Director of the East India Company, as his father had been before him, and invested heavily in real estate in Kent and London, building a huge fortune.

His mansion at Wricklemarsh was designed by architect John James, built for £90,000, and stood in a 250 acre park. A ground plan and cross-section of the mansion were included in the immensely important architectural book “Vitruvius Britannicus” in 1739. According to a contemporary description, Wricklemarsh was: 

"one of the finest houses in England, resembling a royal palace rather than a residence of a private gentleman. The gardens are laid out in the most elegant manner and both the paintings and furniture are surprisingly fine. All rooms are hung with green or crimson silk damask and the cornices, door-cases and chair-frames are all carved and gilt. The chimney pieces are all of fine polished marble." 

Sir Gregory’s fields of interest were said by the Dictionary of National Biography to include "scholarship and languages, engineering, construction, naval architecture and surveying, collecting and building".

The Wricklemarsh mansion was lavishly furnished and housed Page's art collection, which included works by Rubens, van Dyck, Claude, Poussin, Veronese, Salvator Rosa, and Nicolaes Berchem. 

Sir John Soane's Museum boasts eight Dutch East India Company wood chairs inlaid with the coat of arms of Page and Kenward in mother of pearl.

Sir Gregory also supported, and was one of the original governors of, the London Foundling Hospital, which worked to save abandoned children from the streets of the city.

Provenance:

Sir Thomas Merton, sold Christies London, 27th June, 1979, lot 120 
Christies New York, 20th April, 2000, lot 270, property of a lady. 
The fourth one is illustrated in: Michael Clayton, Christies Pictorial History of English and American Silver, P.176, Pl 3 and P.177, no. 3 

Sir Thomas Merton was famous English scientist, who was recruited during WWI into MI6 to help the war effort. He was also an important art collector whose collection included works by Botticelli, Montagna, Signorelli, and Cranach.

Dimensions

Length: 8 in.

Weight

35 oz. 7 dwt.

Price on application





Condition report

In fine condition

Stock number

V9601
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The BADA Standard

  • Since 1918, BADA has been the leading association for the antiques and fine art trade
  • Members are elected for their knowledge, integrity and quality of stock
  • Our clients are protected by BADA’s code of conduct
  • Our dealers’ membership is reviewed and renewed annually
  • Bada.org is a non-profit site: clients deal directly with members and they pay no hidden fees
Click here for more information on the BADA Standard