Lot 152: A VICTORIAN SILVER INKSTAND, DESIGNED IN 1853 BY PIERRE-EMILE JEANNEST (1813-1857) FOR ELKINGTON MASON & CO., BIRMINGHAM, 1854

A VICTORIAN SILVER INKSTAND, DESIGNED IN 1853 BY PIERRE-EMILE JEANNEST (1813-1857) FOR ELKINGTON, MASON & CO., BIRMINGHAM, 1854, shaped oval, centred to the rear by an elephant's head taperstick and to the front with a presentation inscription, oval pen depression flanked by silver-mounted etched glass inkwells, decorated with a variety of scrolled strapwork, on five scroll bracket feet, stamped 'PUBLd BY / ELKINGTON MASON & CO. / 1853' and 'E Jeannest Fecit', 38cm wide, 1048gr (33oz) The presentation inscription reads: Presented by the Temple Street Freehold Land and Building Societies to William Scholefield Esqr. M.P. as a grateful acknowledgment for the invaluable services he has rendered them. Birmingham May 28th 1855. William Scholefield (1809-1867), having championed Birmingham's bid to become an incorporated municipal borough in 1838, became its first Mayor, later serving as a Liberal MP for the borough. The French designer and modeller, Pierre-Emile Jeannest, who also worked for Mintons but transferred full-time to Elkington's in 1853, was responsible for the models of a number of Royal commissions, including Albert's famous stag candelabra at Balmoral. The Art Union was initially sceptical of his designs, apparently finding them just too French, but the publication's successor, the Art Journal, noted in their obituary of 1857 that his work 'did much to elevate the production of Messrs Elkington to the position now universally assigned to them' and that 'his chief characteristic as a man was that of exceeding bonhommie. In this he was more English than French.' (Art Journal, 1857, p.227)