The original design for these candlesticks comes from the French group of royal goldsmiths associated with Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier workshops. Pierre François Bonnestrenne was one of these master goldsmiths and his tour de forces is the pair of silver soup tureens commissioned in 1735 for Evelyn Pierrepont, 2nd Duke of Kingston (1711-73).



In 2010 Koopman Rare Art were fortunate to be custodians of the original pair of candlesticks made in Paris 1735 by Bonnetrenne of this model.



The design for these candlesticks is also seen on a pair of candelabra marked much later for the French silversmith Robert-Joseph Auguste, Paris, 1767, now in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (48.187.389a,b). Auguste used the design again for the candelabra in the service ordered by George III for use at Hanover in the 1770s.

Garrard also copied other French 18th candlestick designs including a Regence pair by Gabriel Gallois, Paris, 1716 (Christie's, New York, 1 December 2004, lot 767), to which they had added branches in London in 1835; they made copies of this model throughout the 19th century.

The early years of this important firm of manufacturing and retail jewellers and silversmiths have been thoroughly investigated by Elaine Barr in her admirable account of the life and career of its founder, George Wickes. A certain amount of information is readily available about his successors, the most reliable being that given by Arthur Grimwade in his London Goldsmiths.

The definitive history of the business, however, has yet to be written, the following being a sketch of their endeavours since the beginning of the 19th century. When Robert Garrard (senior) took sole control in 1802 the business had already been established in Panton Street, Haymarket, for sixty-seven years. Upon his death on 26th March 1818, he was succeeded in business by his three eldest sons, Robert Garrard (junior), James Garrard and Sebastian Garrard trading as R., J. and S. Garrard, otherwise Robert Garrard and brothers. James Garrard, who was born on 13th June 1795 and eventually became Prime Warden of the Goldsmith's Company in 1847/8 and 1850/51, appears to have retired from the firm c.1835. From then until 1843, the year in which they succeeded Rundell, Bridge & Co. as Crown Jewellers, Robert Garrard (junior) and Sebastian Garrard continued trading under the style of R. & S. Garrard.

They were then joined in partnership by Samuel Spilsbury, who retired on 1st January 1847 or 1848, trading under the style of R. & S. Garrard & Co. Robert Sewers who subsequently joined as partner retired on 29th September 1859. Sebastian Garrard, who was born in 1798, died on 11th November 1870, and John Peter Dexter, who appears to have been a partner at this time, died on 17th October 1871 when he was described as a goldsmith of 31 Panton Street. Upon the death of Robert Garrard (junior) (13th August 1793-26th September 1881) the management of the business at 29 Panton Street, Haymarket, passed to his nephew, James Mortimer Garrard, who was joined in partnership with Benjamin Whippy Garrard and Thomas Warrington. The latter retired on 31st March 1884. Following J.M. Garrard's death, the business at 25 Haymarket and 29-31 Panton Street, was continued by his son, Sebastian Henry Garrard, as senior partner. The other partners at this period were Henry C. Pearson, Henry J. Bell and Maurice Whippy Garrard. R. & S. Garrard & Co. was converted into a limited liability company under the style of Garrard & Co ltd registered on 18th March 1909, the first directors being the aforementioned partners and Charles Edwin William Newbiggin. They are now a subsidiary of Mappin & Webb Ltd., a division of Sears Holdings Ltd.