Images(3)

Sconce, one of a pair

Date1700-1701

Marked by Philip Rollos I (active 1697-1714)

OriginEngland, London

MediumSilver (Britannia)

DimensionsOH: 15 3/4"; OW 4 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1938-35,3

DescriptionSconce composed of a backplate and single candle arm. All parts cast. Backplate: royal crown with a human hand to the left and a fleur-de-lis to the right over a ribboned section flanked by curling fronds with an overlay of a partially-unrolled banner on a bar bearing bell flowers on a matted ground; curling fronds issue from cluster of acanthus leaves concealing the insertion point of the arm; at the base of the acanthus leaves are a group of three oak leaves; these leaves rest on top of large console of S-shaped profile voluted at either end; C-shaped spray of leaves issue from upper volute on either side and rejoin sides of volute in center with a pendant of bell flowers; face of upper volute with large applied acanthus leaves to either side on a matter ground; face of console matted with large applied acanthus leaf; pendant of oak leaves and acorns depend from lower volute of console.

Candle arm: detachable arm secured with screw through backplate; arm of S-shaped profile and of square section with paneled faces; arm ornamented with applied acanthus leaves at juncture with body, eight addorsed shells in center with pendent beading, and applied acanthus leaves at voluted outer end with rosettes at sides; arm supporting circular saucer ornamented on underside with alternate acanthus and bell flowers in low relief on matted ground; upper edge of saucer gadrooned with multiple molding surrounding dished center; cylindrical candle socket with molding below rim and filler mid-band with screw attachment through center of saucer. Cypher "WR" with royal crown above engraved on face of arm for King William III.
Label TextPhilip Rollos I fashioned these sconces for William III, whose cypher with crown is engraved on the arms. Sconces of this type with a narrow rectangular back plate, often of embellished console form, appear to have been introduced into England in the closing years of the seventeenth century by Huguenot silversmiths. The sconces exhibit superb craftsmanship and high technical competence, with a formal approach to baroque design and a preference for small scale ornament. The elegant enrichment of the undersides of the saucers is totally French in character and of a type repeated on a broad range of forms during ensuing decades.

The small hand and fleur-de-lis flanking the rim of the royal crown of the crest further indicate French character. They often occur in this position in the emblazonments of the royal arms of France as the upper terminals of the two scepters placed in saltire behind the shield. The tasseled banner below with bell flowers is purely decorative with no heraldic significance. Two full scepters, both with fleur-de-lis terminals, appear below the crown on a pair of very similar sconces made the previous year by David Willaume, Sr., a Huguenot silversmith working in London.

This pair of candle sconces was originally part of a larger set made for King William III of England (1650–1702). They were sold from the royal collections in 1808 along with the silver chandelier also shown in this exhibition.

InscribedEngraved on outer face of each arm with Cypher of William III with royal crown above
MarkingsMarked in relief on scroll of console with 1) sponsor's mark "Ro" in block letters with three pellets above and three pellets below within a circle [Grimwade 1990 # 2383], 2) lion’s lead erased; 3) Britannia seated; and 4) date letter “e” in Gothic script for 1700-01
Also marked with lion's head erased on each socket and arm.

ProvenanceEx Coll: Royal Collection, Sneyd Family, William Randolph Hearst. This set of sconces would appear to have been made for the English crown and to have been in the royal collections. They bear the engraved cypher of William III surmounted by a royal crown. I have been unable to locate this specific set of sconces in the 1721 inventory of royal plate, the only such complete inventory extant from the eighteenth century. These sconces may very well have been included in the several large groups of sconces listed, possibly of varying wieghts, making identification difficult. These sconces, however, did descend together with the silver chandelier (1938-42) and another set of sconces, also with the cypher of William III (1938-34,1-8). The chandelier is listed in this inventory and in other royal accounts. The eight sconces, part of a former set of at least twelve, closely resemble four sconces presently at Buckingham Palace. These sconces passed into the Sneyd family, Keele Hall, Staffordshire. They are first listed as "4 Bracket do {Sconces}" in an "Inventory of Plate left at Messer Garrard Co. 31 Canton St. London", dated June 16, 1849. (MS, Sneyd Papers, Box 79, manuscript Collection, Keele University) They are again listed as "4 Bracket Sconces" in the "List of Plate at Keele Hall April 1854." (MS, Sneyd Papers, Box 79, manuscript Collection, Keele University) They remained in the Sneyd family until the sale of some of the family's collection at Christie's on May 24, 1924. They were acquired, along with the chandelier, the other set of sconces , and a pair of cake baskets, by William Randolph Hearst, through whose broker they were purchased by Colonial Williamsburg in 1938.
Vendor: Parish-Watson & Co., Inc. New York

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