Goldsmith (19th Century)
(attributed to)

Pair of Gueridons

England
Circa 1890

Algerian Onyx, Patinated, gilded and silvered copper

Height : 95 cm (37,4 in.) ; Diameter : 46,5 cm (18,3 in.)

Exceptional pair of Neo-Greek–inspired gueridons, crafted in patinated, gilded, and silvered galvanic copper. The Algerian banded onyx tops are framed by a delicate frieze of palmettes. The decorative appeal of these gueridons is further enhanced by magnificent ivy leaves.
The tripodal bases are crowned with majestically detailed lion heads, symbols of power and nobility. The clawed feet flare gracefully, providing both stability and elegance to the structure. The whole is connected by a stretcher adorned with vegetal motifs.

This pair of gueridons stands out not only for the quality of its craftsmanship and its precious materials, but also for the harmony of its decoration, in which the ivy seems to come alive around the onyx, creating an elegant and timeless atmosphere at the crossroads of Neoclassicism and vegetal Romanticism.

Biography

The renowned firm Elkington, founded in Birmingham in 1824 by George Richards Elkington (1800–1865), began by producing silver mounts for perfume bottles. In 1829, the business expanded sufficiently to allow the company to establish itself in London. In the late 1830s, Elkington began experimenting with gilding and silver-plating based on the principles of electro-metallurgy and filed a patent in 1840, the rights to which were later acquired by the Parisian goldsmith Christofle. While Elkington owed its rise to the commercial exploitation of this new technical process, it nevertheless lacked the artists needed to rank among the leading silversmiths in England. The firm therefore employed two of the most skilled and renowned French designers, Albert Willms (1827–1899) and later Léonard Morel-Ladeuil (1820–1888). Through their works, they helped elevate Elkington’s reputation to the highest level during the famous national and international exhibitions.

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Silversmith (19^th century)

Easel Clock

Signed Elkington & Co
Numbered Rd 92173

England
Circa 1890

Height : 52 cm (20,5 in.) ; Width : 40 cm (15,7 in.) : Depth : 28 cm (11 in.)

Beautiful rectangular table clock executed in gilded and silvered electrotyped metal, decorated in relief with butterflies, music instruments and theater masks, surmounted by two angels crowning with a wreath a portrait of a man in profile in medallion. Ornated in the lower corners with the muses of Theater and Music centering a medallion. It is presented in a wooden frame lined with green velvet, opening by a glazed door and forming an easel.

As The Art Journal wrote as soon as 1844, “The electrotypes are perfect; the finest lines, the most minute dots are as faithfully copied as the boldest objections”. With this new technique, developed in England thanks to Elkington, it became then lucrative market for recreating famous works of art in metal as well as creating some new ones, then cheaper than bronze casts.

Biography

The great Birmingham firm of Elkingtons, was largely the creation of George Richards Elkington (1800-1865), who worked from 1824 in Birmingham as a manufacturer of silver-mounted scent bottles. By 1829 the business had expanded sufficiently for a branch to have been established in London. In the late 1830’s the Elkingtons began making experiments to apply the principles of electro-metallurgy to gilding and plating with silver and in 1840 the patent was at last taken out. Elkingtons owed their rise to a position amongst the most important silversmiths of the country to their exploitation of this new process and the two of the most famous designers then employed, both of them French, Albert Wilms (1827-1899) and Morel-Ladeuil (1820-1888), who helped to make Elkingtons’ reputation with their elaborate exhibition pieces.

Elkington’s works to be linked to

Victoria & Albert Museum, London : The Milton Shield, executed in silver and damascened iron, designed and realized by Morel Ladeuil for Elkington & Co., displayed at the 1867 Paris Universal Exhibition, awarded the gold medal.

Bibliography

Victorian Silver and Silver Plate, Patricia Wardle, The Victorian Collector Series, Barrie & Jenkins, London, 1970.
L’Orfèvrerie au XIXe siècle, XIes Rencontres de l’Ecole du Louvre, La Documentation Française, Paris, 1994.
L’Argenterie, Claude Blart, Flammarion, Paris, 1989.

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