ANTIQUE 19thC VICTORIAN SOLID SILVER CHINOISERIE STYLE TEA SET, E FARRELL c.1838
19th Century Victorian silver Chinoiserie style three piece tea set, very heavy and decorative, each pear-shaped body embossed and applied with various oriental scenes, the stylised leave capped C shaped handles are beautifully modelled and the teapot lid mounted with cast seated Buddha finial and a spout decorated with a grotesque mask and bird head spout.
Hallmarked English silver (925), London, year 1838 (C), Maker EF (Edward Farrell)
Reference Number: A8438
DESCRIPTION
Antique 19th Century Victorian solid silver Chinoiserie style three piece tea set, very heavy and decorative, each pear-shaped body embossed and applied with various oriental scenes, the stylised leave capped C shaped handles are beautifully modelled and the teapot lid mounted with cast seated Buddha finial and a spout decorated with a grotesque mask and bird head spout. Each part is Hallmarked English silver (925 Standard), London, year 1838 (C), Maker EF (Edward Farrell)
Edward Farrell’s apprenticeship and early life is almost completely unrecorded. Although described in Holden's Triennial Directory of 1805-7 as a silversmith, we don’t have any information about his work until 1813, when he registered his first mark. The most productive phase of his career began when he associated with Kensington Lewis, a silversmith and retailer who counted the Duke of York among his prestigious clients.
Their collaboration lasted from about 1816, until the mid 1830’s and during this period Farrell was commissioned large and remarkable sculptural pieces. His flourishing imagination was influenced by 17th Century Flemish and German paintings. His tea services are often embossed with tavern and popular scenes inspired by Teniers the Younger’s genre paintings. Farrell also experimented unusual designs after the Renaissance and Baroque, as well as in the most popular Rococo revival.
After the death of the Duke of York, in 1827, he continued working in a smaller scale.
The remarkable silver gilt candelabrum displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum and featuring Neptune riding a seahorse is a significant example of Farrell’s creativity and skills. It was part of a large scale garniture ordered by the Duke of York probably around 1819.
CONDITION
In Good Condition - no damage, just general wear.
SIZE
TEA POT
Height: 17cm
Width: 25 x 15cm
Weight: 1045g
SUGAR BOWL
Height: 13cm
Width: 20 x 14cm
Weight: 660g
CREAM JUG
Height: 12cm
Width: 18 x 11cm
Weight: 505g
