Chinese Ge-type moon flask with George IV silver-gilt mounts by William Elliott, estimate $60,000- 90,000 at Sotheby’s New York.
The 178 lots from the couple’s East Hampton home includes objects of the calibre of a George II period silver-gilt covered cup to a design by William Kent (estimate $40,000-60,000) and a pair of Venetian gilt copper tazze with the arms of the Doge of Venice, bought from the famous Mentmore house sale ($20,000-30,000).
By repute, this 18in (45cm) Chinese celadon-glazed moon flask with historicist silver-gilt mounts had been removed during the Victorian era from the former royal residence Brighton Pavilion.
It has the sale’s top expectations of $60,000-90,000.
The mounts are by the early 19th century manufacturing silversmith William Elliot
(1773-1855) whose workshop was located at 25 Compton Street, Clerkenwell. Relatively little is known about his business, but he was chief supplier of new plate to the shopkeeper goldsmith and jeweller, Thomas Hamlet (1770-1853) whose Leicester Square emporium enjoyed the patronage of the British royal family. In the years before his spectacular bankruptcy, Hamlet made a fortune supplying many pieces to George, Prince of Wales, first for his London mansion Carlton House and then for his seaside fantasy at Brighton.
