拍品专文
On Sir John's death in 1722 he was succeeded by his brother Robert who married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Brydges, D.D., Archdeacon of Rochester, and niece of James, Duke of Chandos. He died in 1731 when the baronetcy became extinct.
The inscription reads 'ANNA REGINÆ, Dominæ suæ clementissimæ Johannes Walter Baronettus Cleric: Comptrorotulatr, Hospitii Munificentiæ Regiæ memor, Anno Pacis restitutæ, MDCCXIII Grati animi, et lætitiæ Ergo, Ut cantharus et lanx se sibi ostendat dum Optimæ Principi salutem et fausta omnia, quotidiæ precatur.' Translated this reads 'John Walter, Baronet, Clerk of the Controller of Hospitality mindful of the Royal Munificence of his most gracious mistress Queen Anne, in the Year of Peace restored, 1713, with grateful heart and happiness, as the fountain and cistern witness to him, prays daily for health and all good fortune to the Best of Sovereigns'
The board of Green Cloth, to which the rather pompous phrase 'Comptrorotulatr Hospitii' obviously refers, developed from the medieval Clerks of the Coffer to become the accounting office of the Royal Household. The Cofferers and Clerks of the Green Cloth were abolished in 1782 but the board of Green Cloth, so-called from the cover of the table at which it met, is still in existence under the Lord Steward (T.F.Tout, The Administrative History of Medieval England, Manchester, 1920, vol. II, p. 41.)
The Latin inscription suggests that the fountain and cistern ('cantharus' correctly a ewer and 'lanx' a dish) were the personal gift of the Queen to Walter at the time of the celebration of the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, but as the Queen was ill for most of the year in question and took no part in the celebrations in London, the mention of the restoration of peace may perhaps be merely an expression of Walter's personal feelings. That the pieces were a personal gift from the Queen is almost certainly proved by the fact that they are not recorded in the Jewel Office accounts (Public Record Office L.C.9.44 and 47) where official Royal gifts such as race cups, christening presents etc. appear. This suggests that the pieces were indeed paid for by the Queen from the Privy Purse. Unfortunately the Privy Purse records are virtually non-existent for the period in question.
What, however, is of related interest is that the Jewel Office Daybook (L.C.9.44) contains three entries in 1711, 1712 and 1715 for delivery to John Walter of 'thirty six white plates (i.e. silver rather than silver-gilt), twelve spoons, forks and knives to be returned upon demand'. Indeed each entry is annotated 'returned' at a later date. These loans would appear, like others passing through the Jewel Office books, to have been issued for personal use by Walter in the execution of his office, like other Royal servants such as surgeon, apothecary, footmen and other functionaries. The same daybook contains, almost by accident on an unnumbered sheet added at its end, a casual entry dated November 8th 1714: 'In the Office Plate of Sir John Walter One Trunke=one case=one other case in all 3..' which suggests that the two cases may have contained either the above flatware and plates or possibly the fountain and cistern, perhaps kept there for safety. But this must be considered surmise only.
On Sir John's death in 1722 his brother Robert succeeded him, becoming the 4th Baronet. Sir John specifically refers to the fountain in his will which he made in 1718 and which was proved in 1723. 'I recommend it to my said brother Robert Walter during his lifetime carefully to preserve my silver fountain inscribed to her late Majesty Queen of ever blessed memory and by his last will or otherwise as he shall think most proper so to give or dispose of the said silver fountain that the same may after his decease go or remain to such person or persons to or on whom he shall think fit give or settle my dwelling house at Sarsden. It being my earnest desire that the same may be there in perpetually preserved in remembrance of my duty and gratitude to her said late Majesty and of the honour which I bear to her memory.'
Sir Robert's marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Brydges, D.D.,
Archbishop of Rochester, and niece of James, Duke of Chandos, was without issue and on his death in 1731 the Baronetcy became extinct. However he also made specific provision for the fountain in his will of 1731: 'I give to my wife for ever all my said silver plate, household goods and furniture except my silver fountain inscribed to her late Majesty Queen Anne of ever blessed memory which I do give after my wife's decease to such person or persons as shall virtue of my marriage settlement and this my last will be intitled to my Manor or Mansion house of Sarsden. It being my desire and also in performance of the request of my late dear brother Sir John Walter made to me that the same be and remain there perpetualy in the nature of an heirloom by remembrance of the duty and gratitude I have for her said late Majesty and the honour which my said brother did and I still do bear to her memory......If no heirs all to go to son of John Rolls (dec.) of Stevenstone, Devon by his wife Isabella Charlotte.'(sister of John and Robert Walter)
There was no heir. The fountain therefore passed to Robert's nephew John Walter Rolle (c.1714-1779) and on his death to his brother Denys Rolle (c.1725-1797)
The wine cistern is not known to have survived and the removal of the tap from the fountain may perhaps have occurred when the former was sold or melted down at some unknown date. Alternatively this may have happened when the stand was commissioned in 1833.
This remarkable fountain is without doubt one of Pierre Platel's greatest surviving pieces. He came to England with his brother Claude around 1688 with the arrival of King William of Orange. He registered his first mark at the Goldsmiths' Company on 28 June 1699, his address being Pall Mall. It seems he worked in St. James's throughout his career and was buried in St. James's Piccadily.
P.A.S. Phillips, Paul de Lamerie , His Life and Work, London, 1935, pp.15 & 16, credits Platel as the 'great craftsman that Paul de Lamerie owed all his knowledge of his trade, and that he could not have been a better teacher' which 'can be incontrovertibly shown by the existing beautiful examples of the goldsmith's art that came from Platel's workshop'. He continues, 'specimens of his work show that not only was he a superb artist but also a craftsman with a profound knowledge of the medium in which he worked. Platel's beauty of line and delicacy of detail, and his finish in execution, were, in all instances I can recall, beyond cavil, and it is no wonder that, under such a master, Paul de Lamerie gained a complete understanding and appreciation of the art in which later years he was to excel'
When one considers the number of cisterns and particulary fountains that have been melted down, and the superb condition of this example, it is evident that this fountain is truely great survival of the workshop of Paul de Lamerie's master
The inscription reads 'ANNA REGINÆ, Dominæ suæ clementissimæ Johannes Walter Baronettus Cleric: Comptrorotulatr, Hospitii Munificentiæ Regiæ memor, Anno Pacis restitutæ, MDCCXIII Grati animi, et lætitiæ Ergo, Ut cantharus et lanx se sibi ostendat dum Optimæ Principi salutem et fausta omnia, quotidiæ precatur.' Translated this reads 'John Walter, Baronet, Clerk of the Controller of Hospitality mindful of the Royal Munificence of his most gracious mistress Queen Anne, in the Year of Peace restored, 1713, with grateful heart and happiness, as the fountain and cistern witness to him, prays daily for health and all good fortune to the Best of Sovereigns'
The board of Green Cloth, to which the rather pompous phrase 'Comptrorotulatr Hospitii' obviously refers, developed from the medieval Clerks of the Coffer to become the accounting office of the Royal Household. The Cofferers and Clerks of the Green Cloth were abolished in 1782 but the board of Green Cloth, so-called from the cover of the table at which it met, is still in existence under the Lord Steward (T.F.Tout, The Administrative History of Medieval England, Manchester, 1920, vol. II, p. 41.)
The Latin inscription suggests that the fountain and cistern ('cantharus' correctly a ewer and 'lanx' a dish) were the personal gift of the Queen to Walter at the time of the celebration of the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, but as the Queen was ill for most of the year in question and took no part in the celebrations in London, the mention of the restoration of peace may perhaps be merely an expression of Walter's personal feelings. That the pieces were a personal gift from the Queen is almost certainly proved by the fact that they are not recorded in the Jewel Office accounts (Public Record Office L.C.9.44 and 47) where official Royal gifts such as race cups, christening presents etc. appear. This suggests that the pieces were indeed paid for by the Queen from the Privy Purse. Unfortunately the Privy Purse records are virtually non-existent for the period in question.
What, however, is of related interest is that the Jewel Office Daybook (L.C.9.44) contains three entries in 1711, 1712 and 1715 for delivery to John Walter of 'thirty six white plates (i.e. silver rather than silver-gilt), twelve spoons, forks and knives to be returned upon demand'. Indeed each entry is annotated 'returned' at a later date. These loans would appear, like others passing through the Jewel Office books, to have been issued for personal use by Walter in the execution of his office, like other Royal servants such as surgeon, apothecary, footmen and other functionaries. The same daybook contains, almost by accident on an unnumbered sheet added at its end, a casual entry dated November 8th 1714: 'In the Office Plate of Sir John Walter One Trunke=one case=one other case in all 3..' which suggests that the two cases may have contained either the above flatware and plates or possibly the fountain and cistern, perhaps kept there for safety. But this must be considered surmise only.
On Sir John's death in 1722 his brother Robert succeeded him, becoming the 4th Baronet. Sir John specifically refers to the fountain in his will which he made in 1718 and which was proved in 1723. 'I recommend it to my said brother Robert Walter during his lifetime carefully to preserve my silver fountain inscribed to her late Majesty Queen of ever blessed memory and by his last will or otherwise as he shall think most proper so to give or dispose of the said silver fountain that the same may after his decease go or remain to such person or persons to or on whom he shall think fit give or settle my dwelling house at Sarsden. It being my earnest desire that the same may be there in perpetually preserved in remembrance of my duty and gratitude to her said late Majesty and of the honour which I bear to her memory.'
Sir Robert's marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Brydges, D.D.,
Archbishop of Rochester, and niece of James, Duke of Chandos, was without issue and on his death in 1731 the Baronetcy became extinct. However he also made specific provision for the fountain in his will of 1731: 'I give to my wife for ever all my said silver plate, household goods and furniture except my silver fountain inscribed to her late Majesty Queen Anne of ever blessed memory which I do give after my wife's decease to such person or persons as shall virtue of my marriage settlement and this my last will be intitled to my Manor or Mansion house of Sarsden. It being my desire and also in performance of the request of my late dear brother Sir John Walter made to me that the same be and remain there perpetualy in the nature of an heirloom by remembrance of the duty and gratitude I have for her said late Majesty and the honour which my said brother did and I still do bear to her memory......If no heirs all to go to son of John Rolls (dec.) of Stevenstone, Devon by his wife Isabella Charlotte.'(sister of John and Robert Walter)
There was no heir. The fountain therefore passed to Robert's nephew John Walter Rolle (c.1714-1779) and on his death to his brother Denys Rolle (c.1725-1797)
The wine cistern is not known to have survived and the removal of the tap from the fountain may perhaps have occurred when the former was sold or melted down at some unknown date. Alternatively this may have happened when the stand was commissioned in 1833.
This remarkable fountain is without doubt one of Pierre Platel's greatest surviving pieces. He came to England with his brother Claude around 1688 with the arrival of King William of Orange. He registered his first mark at the Goldsmiths' Company on 28 June 1699, his address being Pall Mall. It seems he worked in St. James's throughout his career and was buried in St. James's Piccadily.
P.A.S. Phillips, Paul de Lamerie , His Life and Work, London, 1935, pp.15 & 16, credits Platel as the 'great craftsman that Paul de Lamerie owed all his knowledge of his trade, and that he could not have been a better teacher' which 'can be incontrovertibly shown by the existing beautiful examples of the goldsmith's art that came from Platel's workshop'. He continues, 'specimens of his work show that not only was he a superb artist but also a craftsman with a profound knowledge of the medium in which he worked. Platel's beauty of line and delicacy of detail, and his finish in execution, were, in all instances I can recall, beyond cavil, and it is no wonder that, under such a master, Paul de Lamerie gained a complete understanding and appreciation of the art in which later years he was to excel'
When one considers the number of cisterns and particulary fountains that have been melted down, and the superb condition of this example, it is evident that this fountain is truely great survival of the workshop of Paul de Lamerie's master