From the Burdett Coutts Collection. An important William IV Ewer & Basin made in London in 1836 by William Bateman II.
From the Burdett Coutts Collection. An important William IV Ewer & Basin made in London in 1836 by William Bateman II.
374868
The Ewer stands on a circular spreading foot decorated with reeding. The baluster shaped body rises to an everted rim decorated with lobing and the plain scroll handle is attached to the top of the main body with a foliate moulding. The basin is of circular form, with baluster sides and also rises to the same everted lobed rim which is shown on the Ewer. Both pieces are engraved with the cipher of Harriet, Duchess of St. Albans (1777-1837) below the Coronet of a Duchess. In addition both pieces are engraved with the cipher of the great philanthropist Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906). Both pieces are in exceptional condition with crisp hallmarks on each.
The Duchess patronised the finest silversmiths of the period and William Bateman was a member of the famous Bateman dynasty started by Hester. Harriet Mellon's beauty and acting, at Drury Lane, caught the eye of Thomas Coutts, the Royal banker and he made her his mistress - eventually marrying her at the age of 80, following the death of his wife. On his death seven years later, he left her his fortune. She went on to marry the 9th Duke of St. Albans, 23 years her junior. He made no claim to her fortune and Mellon regarded herself as trustee to Coutts' daughters. She was also able to indulge her enthusiasm for silver and she patronised many of the leading silversmiths of the day.
Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906) was the daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, a politician, and Sophia Coutts, Thomas' daughter. She was Harriet's step grand-daughter, and on the death of the Duchess she became the richest heiress in England. She is said to have turned down the Duke of Wellingdon and Queen Victoria made her a Baroness in her own right in 1871. By the time of her death she is thought to have dispersed more than £ 300 million in today's money to causes ranging from housing schemes, schools and support for refugees, to the bells for St. Paul's Cathedral. Nearly 30,000 people filed past her coffin before she was buried in Westminster Abbey. Edward VII is reported to have described her as, "After my mother the most remarkable woman in the Kingdom."
BASIN:
Height: 4 inches.
Diameter at the rim: 11.5 inches.
EWER:
Height to the top of the handle: 10 inches.
Length, handle to spout: 8.5 inches.
TOTAL WEIGHT: 65oz.
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 below the Coronet of a Duchess. In addition both pieces are engraved with the cipher of the great philanthropist Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906). Both pieces are in exceptional condition with crisp hallmarks on each.The Duchess patronised the finest silversmiths of the period and William Bateman was a member of the famous Bateman dynasty started by Hester. Harriet Mellon's beauty and acting, at Drury Lane, caught the eye of Thomas Coutts, the Royal banker and he made her his mistress - eventually marrying her at the age of 80, following the death of his wife. On his death seven years later, he left her his fortune. She went on to marry the 9th Duke of St. Albans, 23 years her junior. He made no claim to her fortune and Mellon regarded herself as trustee to Coutts' daughters. She was also able to indulge her enthusiasm for silver and she patronised many of the leading silversmiths of the day.Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906) was the daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, a politician, and Sophia Coutts, Thomas' daughter. She was Harriet's step grand-daughter, and on the death of the Duchess she became the richest heiress in England. She is said to have turned down the Duke of Wellingdon and Queen Victoria made her a Baroness in her own right in 1871. By the time of her death she is thought to have dispersed more than £ 300 million in today's money to causes ranging from housing schemes, schools and support for refugees, to the bells for St. Paul's Cathedral. Nearly 30,000 people filed past her coffin before she was buried in Westminster Abbey. Edward VII is reported to have described her as, "After my mother the most remarkable woman in the Kingdom."BASIN:Height: 4 inches.Diameter at the rim: 11.5 inches.EWER:Height to the top of the handle: 10 inches.Length, handle to spout: 8.5 inches.TOTAL WEIGHT: 65oz.){kind=link}