Francis Boone Thomas A Monumental Victorian Twelve-Arm Epergne

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Silver
London, 1892
Maker’s mark of Francis Boone Thomas

Height: 44 cm, 17 ½ in.
Width: 52.5 cm, 20 ½ in.
Depth: 48 cm, 18 7/8 in.
Weight: 7583.65 gr., 243 oz. 16 dwt.
 

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Provenance

George C. Birlant & Co.. Charleston, South Carolina.
Estate of Aubrey Hancock, Charleston, South Carolina.
 

Silversmith Biography

Besides Richard Sibley, who is noted to have supplied many items of silver to the firm between about 1847 and 1875 (for example a tea kettle on stand, London, 1847/49, and a pair of pepperettes, London, 1875), Thomas's sold work from the following manufacturing silversmiths: George Angell (a salver, London, 1852); Francis Higgins (a silver-gilt paper knife, London, 1860); C.T: & G. Fox (a silver-gilt replica of an apostle spoon, maker's mark of George Fox, London, 1862, with five others, maker's mark of Richard Sibley, London, 1864-66, in fitted case with impressed case makers' mark H&B incuse for Harker & Bettridge; a large trophy tankard, G. Fox, London, 1865; and a five-piece Teniers' pattern tea & coffee set, G. Fox London, 1890-92); Alexander Macrae (twelve soup plates, London 1869); Edward Barnard & Sons (six salt cellars, maker’s mark of j & E. Barnard, London, 1871); Jackson & Chase and John Henry Rawlins ( a massive tankard in Scandinavian style, London, 1893). They also noted to have retailed an electroplated dessert canteen manufactured by Elkington, Mason & Co in 1853/54. Private addresses: Francis Boone Thomas, The Hall, Bushey, Hertfordshire, in 1899; Charles Henry Townley, Riseholm, Purley, Surrey; John William Thomas, 172 Belsize Road, South Hampstead, NW.

Description

A twelve-arm epergne with four oval pierced baskets, eight pierced dishes and a large oval central pierced basket. Below is a matching lower basket with interior cast finial above in the form of Mercury, the god of commerce and trade. The reeded foliate legs connected with bountiful floral and foliate swags.