Silver Claret Jug and Pair of Goblets depicting St. Andrew's Church & Beaver Hall, Montreal
35.6 cms x 17.8 cms x 7.62 cms (14 ins x 7.01 ins x 14 ins)
Dated 1861
made in 1861
Lot offered for sale by Heffel, Vancouver at the auction event "Fine Canadian Art Fall 2006 Live auction" held on Fri, Nov 24, 2006.
Lot 116
Lot 116
Estimate: CAD $15,000 - $20,000
Realised: CAD $43,125
Realised: CAD $43,125
Lot description - from the online catalogue*
Provenance:
Benjamin Hall, 1861
Private Collection, British Columbia
Literature:
Dr. Ross Fox, Presentation Pieces and Trophies from the Henry Birks Collection of Canadian Silver, National Gallery of Canada, 1985, pages 49 and 50, almost identical jug reproduced page 51
Notes:
Robert Hendery trained as a silversmith in Scotland and immigrated to Canada in 1837. He produced work for the major Montreal retailers and before long he was Montreal's, and probably Canada's, best silversmith. In the 1860s he was the main Canadian maker of silver for the important firm of Savage and Lyman, whose marks appear on this presentation claret jug and goblets.
These exceptional pieces were presented to Benjamin Hall in 1861. The reason for the gift is not known, although Benjamin Hall was a lawyer and advisor to the Phillips daughters, who were the donors. The inscription reads: "Presented to Benjamin Hall Esq. by Eleanor, Julia, Esther & Elizabeth Phillips as a small token of Gratitude, Montreal 22nd October, 1861". The four sisters were all daughters of Thomas Phillips, a well-known Montreal businessman who was also one of the contractors for the Rideau Canal.
An almost identical claret jug, in the National Gallery of Canada collection, was presented to John Boston Esq., a lawyer, Sheriff of Montreal and President of St. Andrew's Society of Montreal. It lacks the two goblets but is otherwise the same in form and decoration. Dr. Fox writes of the John Boston piece: "The key to explaining this presentation may rest with the two etched and chased architectural scenes on the sides of the piece. One of the scenes is of special historical interest, as it is the best known illustration of Beaver Hall."
Beaver Hall was the country home of Joseph Frobisher (1740 - 1810), in his time one of the wealthiest men in Canada. Thomas Phillips subsequently owned Beaver Hall before the building was burnt down in 1847 and the estate was divided up for building lots. The other side of the claret jug depicts the same spot some 20 years later with two new churches: St. Andrew's Church on the left and the Unitarian Church on the right with the spire of Christ Church Cathedral in the background.
Dr. Fox continues: "These scenes are executed in a marvelously realistic manner, as is a wreath of naturalistic, chased vine leaves which encircles the inscription on the front of the body. Similar leaves, cast and applied, reach out from the branchlike handle and cling about the neck of the jug. A few other leaves also cluster about the lower handle join. As a final touch, a small beaver finial tops the domed lid."
The goblets with gilt wash interiors add enormously to the appeal of the Benjamin Hall claret jug and perhaps add another clue to the mystery behind the presentation as they both depict St. Andrew's church to one side and the initials BH to the other.
The set of three pieces has been in the same family since 1862. Edith Carter of Drummond Street, Montreal, grandmother of the present owner, was a personal friend of Henry Birks (former store manager of Savage & Lyman). Over tea in her home in Montreal, Mrs. Carter was reputedly told by Mr. Birks that the pieces should never be sold out of Canada as they were a "national treasure."
The jug is 34 oz. troy weight, and the goblets are 7 oz. combined weight.
Benjamin Hall, 1861
Private Collection, British Columbia
Literature:
Dr. Ross Fox, Presentation Pieces and Trophies from the Henry Birks Collection of Canadian Silver, National Gallery of Canada, 1985, pages 49 and 50, almost identical jug reproduced page 51
Notes:
Robert Hendery trained as a silversmith in Scotland and immigrated to Canada in 1837. He produced work for the major Montreal retailers and before long he was Montreal's, and probably Canada's, best silversmith. In the 1860s he was the main Canadian maker of silver for the important firm of Savage and Lyman, whose marks appear on this presentation claret jug and goblets.
These exceptional pieces were presented to Benjamin Hall in 1861. The reason for the gift is not known, although Benjamin Hall was a lawyer and advisor to the Phillips daughters, who were the donors. The inscription reads: "Presented to Benjamin Hall Esq. by Eleanor, Julia, Esther & Elizabeth Phillips as a small token of Gratitude, Montreal 22nd October, 1861". The four sisters were all daughters of Thomas Phillips, a well-known Montreal businessman who was also one of the contractors for the Rideau Canal.
An almost identical claret jug, in the National Gallery of Canada collection, was presented to John Boston Esq., a lawyer, Sheriff of Montreal and President of St. Andrew's Society of Montreal. It lacks the two goblets but is otherwise the same in form and decoration. Dr. Fox writes of the John Boston piece: "The key to explaining this presentation may rest with the two etched and chased architectural scenes on the sides of the piece. One of the scenes is of special historical interest, as it is the best known illustration of Beaver Hall."
Beaver Hall was the country home of Joseph Frobisher (1740 - 1810), in his time one of the wealthiest men in Canada. Thomas Phillips subsequently owned Beaver Hall before the building was burnt down in 1847 and the estate was divided up for building lots. The other side of the claret jug depicts the same spot some 20 years later with two new churches: St. Andrew's Church on the left and the Unitarian Church on the right with the spire of Christ Church Cathedral in the background.
Dr. Fox continues: "These scenes are executed in a marvelously realistic manner, as is a wreath of naturalistic, chased vine leaves which encircles the inscription on the front of the body. Similar leaves, cast and applied, reach out from the branchlike handle and cling about the neck of the jug. A few other leaves also cluster about the lower handle join. As a final touch, a small beaver finial tops the domed lid."
The goblets with gilt wash interiors add enormously to the appeal of the Benjamin Hall claret jug and perhaps add another clue to the mystery behind the presentation as they both depict St. Andrew's church to one side and the initials BH to the other.
The set of three pieces has been in the same family since 1862. Edith Carter of Drummond Street, Montreal, grandmother of the present owner, was a personal friend of Henry Birks (former store manager of Savage & Lyman). Over tea in her home in Montreal, Mrs. Carter was reputedly told by Mr. Birks that the pieces should never be sold out of Canada as they were a "national treasure."
The jug is 34 oz. troy weight, and the goblets are 7 oz. combined weight.
Most realised prices include the Buyer's Premium of 18-25%, but not the HST/GST Tax.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Heffel auction house for permission to use.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Heffel auction house for permission to use.