Description

Awarded at Fernhill 18th August 1843

From our Tea Caddy collection, we are thrilled to offer this Ebonised Tea Chest given as a Royal Prize is 1843. The Tea Chest of rectangular form with an Ebonised body and a Sterling Silver handle, escutcheon and fittings. To the top a plaque reads ‘Royal Prize 1843’ with each piece hallmarked Sterling, London, Sebastian Crespel II and dated 1842. When opened the Tea Chest reveals a dark blue ruched velvet inner lid, Silver hinges hallmarked Sterling, London by George Reid and two fitted partitions housing two extensively decorated Tea Caddies. Each tea caddy decorated in the Rococo Chinoiserie style shaped in square form and raised upon scrolling feet with repousse decoration throughout displaying traditional Chinese pagoda buildings and a figure picking fruit from a tree below high quality overlooking lion masks. The Tea Caddies decorated in the manner of renowned 18th century silversmith Paul de Lamerie. The Tea Caddies are hallmarked to the base Sterling, London, Joseph Angell I & Joseph Angell II and dated 1840. The base is also engraved ‘Royal Prize Won at Fernhill 18 August 1843’ below a family crest and two inital monograms. An exceptional Tea Caddy for any collection with great horse racing provenance and history.

Joseph Angell I & Joseph Angell II was founded by Joseph Angell I who was apprenticed to Henry Nutting in 1796, obtaining his freedom in 1804. Joseph Angell I entered his first mark in 1811 active as plate worker at 55 Compton Street, Clerkenwell. In 1831 he entered a joint mark with his brother John Angell (mark JA over IA, on 31 January 1831). Around 1837 Joseph Angell II (son of Joseph Angell I) joined to the partnership and the business was continued under the style Angell, Son & Angell. In 1840 Josephs brother departed the business and it continued as Joseph Angell & Son operating with the new mark JA over JA which was entered on the 6th of July 1840 and soon after in 1842 the business moved to 25 Panton Street, Haymarket. Joseph Angell I retired in 1848 and the business continued to be run by his son Joseph Angell II under his own name opening new retail premises at 10 Strand, Charing Cross (1849). Joseph Angell II exhibited in the 1851 Great Exhibition and was awarded a Prize Medal for his enamelled articles, he also attended the 1853 New York Exhibition winning the bronze medal and to the 1862 International Exhibition winning a further medal. The Angell family business became one of the largest and most important silver and jewellery manufacturers and retailers in London in the mid 19th century.

Sebastian Crespel II Sebastian & James Crespel were London silversmiths with little known documentation about their lives and careers. Their mark is assumed to have been entered in the famous missing largeworkers’ register around 1760. The Crespels are noted in Edward Wakelin’s workmen registers and deemed most likely that they learnt their trade in Wakelin’s workshop. The 1769 record entry displays them as supplying plates and dishes which coincides with the majority of their works. Their careers certainly seem to have been tied to Wakelin and from 1782 it’s likely that all pieces bearing their mark went through the latters’ hands. From 1788 Wakelin’s ledger account is headed ‘James Crespel’, indicating Sebastian’s probable death or retirement. The ledgers finish in October 1806 without any apparent successor to the business even though it was known that James Crespel had at least four sons apprenticed in the trade.

George Reid was a Silversmith based in London specialising in Boxes, decanter labels, lids and accessories. His works were often supplied to high end retailers such as Lund entering his first mark around 1823 and working until circa 1839. Further marks were registered in Mar 1811, 1817, 1824, 1828, 1829. It is believed that the business was Succeeded by Ann Reid possibly his widow AR mark within a matching oval punch.

Chinoiserie is a decorative style in Western art, furniture, and architecture that was undertaken particularly in the 18th century. It is characterized by the use of Chinese motifs and techniques hence the name Chinoiserie.

Paul Jacques de Lamerie (1688-1751) was a renowned London-based silversmith. The Victoria and Albert Museum describes him as the “greatest silversmith working in England in the 18th century”. He was being referred to as the “King’s silversmith” in 1717. Though his mark raises the market value of silver, his output was large and not all his pieces are outstanding. The volume of work bearing de Lamerie’s mark makes it almost certain that he subcontracted orders to other London silversmiths before applying his own mark.

Fernhill was the original name given to one of the handicap racers at Royal Ascot beginning in 1834 and later named ‘The Sandringham Stakes (Listed Handicap)’. The Fern Hill Stakes race was part of the traditional Heath Day card on the Saturday after Royal Ascot. It was renamed the Sandringham Stakes after the royal residence and as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002. This is a competitive Listed handicap over a mile, limited to three-year-old fillies only.

Sterling Silver is an alloy composed by weight of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness (parts per thousand) of 925.

Every purchase made from Mark Goodger Antiques is accompanied by a comprehensive suite of documents to ensure your satisfaction and peace of mind. This includes our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen item, and an independent invoice for insurance purposes. Additionally, your purchase is protected by our no-hassle, money-back policy, and your item will be fully insured during the shipping process to safeguard against damage or loss.

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