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Magnificent Gold
The Christie's English Gold Auction held in London November 20,
2001
Barb Moriarty
November 20, 2001
...Sixty-five thousand.
Sixty-eight thousand on the phone. Seventy-two thousand for you,
sir.
Christie's Magnificent Gold auction, held in London today, included
perhaps the most superb 17th and 18th century gold objects in
existence. Only fifteen percent of the English gold artworks
made before 1800 have survived the passage of time. The sale
realized £1,804,150.
The highlights of the auction
were nine extra-special gold objects assembled by the late Nathanial
Mayer Victor, 3rd Baron Rothschild in the 1950s and 1960s. These
stunning works of art bear testimony to the legendary taste of
the Rothschilds, one of the greatest families of collectors,
of all time.
Lot #11 A superb porringer
made in London in 1671 that stands out for its perfect proportion
and wonderful condition. Made for Sir James Smith, an immensely
wealthy Mayor of Exeter, the porringer descended in the Waleran
family in Devon until its sale at Christie's in 1969. It
was purchased by the American millionaire Charles Engelhard,
on whom it has been rumoured Ian Fleming based his character,
Goldfinger. Following Engelhard's death, Lord Rothschild purchased
the porringer at Christie's in 1972.
4 3/4" tall; weight 21oz
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![](magnificentgold/charlesii_porringer_sm.gif)
SOLD for £380,000
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Lot #13 The Rushout Beaker,
1697, finely engraved with the arms of the Levant or Turkey Company,
one of only two surviving examples of the precious gifts presented
to the wives of newly-appointed Ambassadors to Turkey. The
beaker passed into the family of the Earls of Shaftesbury and
was sold by them at Christie's in 1952 to Lumley.
5 1/2" tall; weight 17oz
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![](magnificentgold/rushout_beaker_sm.gif)
SOLD for £300,750
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Lot #15 Queen Anne cream
jug, 1705, which appears to be one of the earliest known
surviving cream-jugs and the only recorded 18th century example
in solid gold.
3 3/4" tall; weight 7oz
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![](magnificentgold/queen_anne_cream_sm.gif)
SOLD £157,500
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Three important racing cups
sold:
Lot #10 A magnificent Queen
Anne York gold cup of 1706, made in London the previous year
and given by Queen Anne for presentation.
It has appeared at auction
at Christie's on three occasions before, in 1898, 1911 and 1967.
6" tall; weight 23oz
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![](magnificentgold/race_cup_cover_sm.gif)
SOLD £223,750
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Lot #12 A second gold cup in
the collection is also from the York races, the Ladies Gold Cup
run on 4 August 1725. This cup is engraved with a galloping
horse identified as Surley which was owned by Mr. Cuthbert
Routh. Recent research has confirmed that the grey beat a chestnut
called Quintin.
4" tall; 13oz
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![](magnificentgold/ladies_cup_sm.gif)
SOLD £110,000
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Lot #9 The third racing prize,
in the form of a massive tumbler cup, was given by the Grosvenor
family to award at the Chester races in 1792.
circa 1791
3" tall; 9oz
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![](magnificentgold/tumbler_cup_sm.gif)
SOLD £110,000
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Lot #1 A superb
group of Irish Freedom
boxes presented to the Dukes of Leinster in the 18th century
by the cities, or various corporations within them, of Limerick,
Kildare and Dublin. These boxes were exhibited in 1989
at the important Glory of the Goldsmith exhibition at
Christie's in London.
The rarity of this collection
lies partly in the delicate nature of these objects as well as
the very limited numbers of gold artworks actually produced in
the 17th and 18th centuries. They are also an historic part of
English history, survivors from a bygone era that offer a glimpse
into an opulent past.
2 3/8" diam; weight 2oz
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![](magnificentgold/georgeiii_box_sm.gif)
SOLD £24,000
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Lot #8 22-carat English George
III sugar tongs.
circa 1760
4 3/4" long; weight 1
1/2oz
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![](magnificentgold/georgeiii_sugar_sm.gif)
SOLD £12,000
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Lot #7 George III Irish gold
thimbles. Both these pieces were expected to fetch somewhere
between £5000 - £8000
circa 1768
5/8" tall; weight 13gm
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![](magnificentgold/georgeiii_thimbles_sm.gif)
SOLD £9,000
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