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Director’s Choice – Timo Koopman The Glorious Silver & Silver-Gilt Collection of Ernest Augustus, The Duke of Cumberland
The Shield of Achilles
London, 1823, by Philip Rundell for Ernest Augustus the Duke of Cumberland, later the King of Hanover
Available at Koopman Rare Art
Some of the finest plate ever to be commissioned in the early 19th century was that once found in the extensive collection of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, fifth son of George III. On the death of William IV in 1837, as the eldest surviving male child of George III, the Duke of Cumberland succeeded to the crown of Hanover.
Ernest Augustus took with him to Hanover a considerable quantity of the English Royal silver, in addition to his own personal silver. A claim by his niece, Queen Victoria, for the return of certain Royal plate was ignored and the property was engraved with the initials E.A.F.s, for Ernest Augustus Fidekommiss, meaning the silver was entailed to his estate. Sometimes the plate was engraved ‘EDC A’; the “A” referred to silver items, silver-gilt items were often engraved “EDC B.”
London, 1823, by Philip Rundell for Ernest Augustus the Duke of Cumberland, later the King of Hanover
Available at Koopman Rare Art
Some of the finest plate ever to be commissioned in the early 19th century was that once found in the extensive collection of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, fifth son of George III. On the death of William IV in 1837, as the eldest surviving male child of George III, the Duke of Cumberland succeeded to the crown of Hanover.
Ernest Augustus took with him to Hanover a considerable quantity of the English Royal silver, in addition to his own personal silver. A claim by his niece, Queen Victoria, for the return of certain Royal plate was ignored and the property was engraved with the initials E.A.F.s, for Ernest Augustus Fidekommiss, meaning the silver was entailed to his estate. Sometimes the plate was engraved ‘EDC A’; the “A” referred to silver items, silver-gilt items were often engraved “EDC B.”
