Important antique William IV sterling silver Barnard Brothers presentation cup from Mrs. Pierre Cesar Labouchere

This stunning antique William IV sterling silver presentation cup bears marks for London, 1835, Edward, Edward Jr., John & William Barnard. This mark was used from 1829 to 1846; the Barnard silversmithing company is one of the oldest in the world, with its origins dating to 1680 (founded by Anthony Nelme).

Of substantial size and thick gauge, this piece is of exceptional quality with gilded interior and heavily engraved details to base, featuring repousse motifs of flowers and acanthus leaves.

The inscription indicates this piece’s historical importance as it was presented by Mrs. Dorothy Elizabeth Baring “of Hylands” (Mrs. P.C. Labouchere), wife of Pierre Cesar Labouchere to a Mr. Robert Wilson for his “attention to the poor of Writtle, 1839”.

Mr. Pierre Cesar Labouchere was one of the great European merchant bankers of the 19th century. Having fallen in love with Dorothy Baring, Sir Robert Baring’s niece, during one of his trips to England this alliance secured the ties between the two great merchant banks of Barings and Hope & Co. He would in 1801 upon Sir Robert Baring’s instructions help negotiate loans to the court of Lisbon, which would be known as the “Portuguese diamond loan”- a vast sum of 13 million guilders .

With the French Revolutionary Wars threatening his stable life in Holland, Labouchere moved permanently to England in the 1790s and would establish his household at Hylands in 1814, expanding and improving the estate. Notables such as Talleyrand and the Duchesse de Dino were known to visit Mr. Labouchere at his estate. He and his wife were “beloved by the poorer classes” of Writtle and Widford for “numerous charities, and general benevolence” including supplies such as bedding, food and sums of money.

He had two sons named Henry and John respectively. His elder son Henry Labouchere would go on to become Master of the Mint and later serve in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1855 to 1858; he would be raised to the ranks of the peerage as the 1st Baron of Taunton in 1858. The younger son, John, would be a prominent banker in his own right.

An important piece with connexions to the Labouchere and Barings banking dynasties, as well as the beautiful historic estate of Hylands.

Refereces:

https://www.eliotsofporteliot.com/individuals/labouchere-peter-caesar.html

https://hylandsestate.co.uk/friends-of-hylands/

https://www.eliotsofporteliot.com/familytree/getperson.php?personID=I01858&tree=eliot1

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_Third_Supplement.djvu/342

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Labouchere-1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Labouchere,_1st_Baron_Taunton

https://www.natwestgroup.com/heritage/people/john-peter-labouchere.html

Price marked at $15,000 AUD.

Measurements: 405 grams. 18cm high, 12cm opening diameter.

Excellent antique condition, marks lightly rubbed but legible, engraving crisp.