William Grundy
A George II kettle, stand and lamp in the Chinoiserie taste
William Grundy
A George II kettle, stand and lamp in the Chinoiserie taste
By William Grundy
London, 1758
17 1/2 in. (44.5 cm.) high on handle
gross weight 109 oz. 4 dwt. (3,398 gr.)
In the Chinoiserie taste, the inverted pear-shaped body of the kettle is cast and chased with scrolls, rocaille and flowers framing two large cartouches featuring on one side figures picking tea leaves and on the other a tea drinking party. The lid features a kneeling figure holding a bird finial while the swing handle has half Chinese male figure terminal and with woven cane handle. The stand rests on three shell feet, the apron pierced with flower garlands holding a pagoda temple, the baluster plain lamp with detachable cover, marked underneath the kettle, in cover and underneath the lamp.
The silversmith William Grundy was apprenticed to Edward Vincent and obtained his freedom in 1739.
His first mark as a large plate worker was entered in 1743, when he is registered with an address in Fetter Lane.
In 1748 and 1754 he registered a second and third mark, having become a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths’ Company. He also appears in the Parliament Report list of 1773, where he is described as a plate worker.
In 1779 he entered a partnership with Edward Fernell. He probably died before 1780 as in that year his business partner registers a mark of his own.
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