Lot 225: AN IMPORTANT PAIR OF GEORGE III SILVER THREE-LIGHT CANDELABRA

AN IMPORTANT PAIR OF GEORGE III SILVER THREE-LIGHT CANDELABRA
MARK OF THOMAS HEMING, LONDON, 1766
Each slightly domed part-fluted base with a reeded border with a spiral fluted baluster stem, the three-light candlearms with three scrolling reeded and leaf-clad branches terminating in fluted sockets and wax-pans, with a central openwork baluster spiral fluted finial, engraved with a crest, the candlesticks marked under base and on socket, the branches marked on each wax-pan and on three sockets
17 in. (43 cm.) high
156 oz. (4,842 gr.)
The crest is that of Downing of Ballintoy Castle (2)

Thomas Heming was the son of a Midlands merchant and was apprenticed in 1738 to the goldsmith Edmund Bodington, but on the same day was turned over to Peter Archambo. A. G. Grimwade, London Goldsmiths 1697-1837, London, 1982, p.543., describes his early work as showing 'a French delicacy of taste and refinement of execution which is unquestionably inherited from his master Archambo'.

He registered his first mark in 1745 and soon acquired many important clients including John, 3rd Earl of Bute, for whom he was to supply large quantities of plate (see for example Christie's London, 3 July 1996, lots 77-83). Most importantly for Heming, it was Bute's relationship with George, Prince of Wales, later George III, that was to lead to Heming's appointment in 1760 as Principal Goldsmith to the King. He was to hold this post until 1782, when he was forced to resign after a malicious campaign to discredit him through accusations of excessive charges.

One from another pair of candelabra of the same model, hallmarked for 1768, are illustrated in V. Brett, The Sotheby's Directory of Silver 1600-1940, London, 1986, p. 222, no.981.