Tennants Auctioneers
Lot 2159
each shaped circular and with fluted border, engraved with a crest below a duke's coronetThe crest, 'a griffin's head couped with wings expanded or, gorged with a collar arg, charged with three lozenges gu.' is that of Montagu as borne by the Dukes of Manchester, probably for William, 9th Duke of Manchester (1877-1947).22cm diameter, 149oz 15dwt, 4,657grProvenance:Probably William, 9th Duke of Manchester (1877-1947) and by descent to his sonAlexander, 10th Duke of Manchester (1902-1977), possibly sold by him Christie's, 16 March 1949 in advance of the sale of the remaining contents of Kimbolton Castle, conducted by Knight, Frank and Rutley, 18-21 July 1949.From a Private Collection of Silver (lots 2140-2230).Footnote: William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester was born at Kimbolton Castle, the former seat of the Dukes of Manchester, in Cambridgeshire, the son George, 8th Duke of and Consuelo, a Cuban American heiress who he married in 1876. Styled Lord Kimbolton on his birth and until the death of his grandfather in 1890 and then Viscount Mandeville until he succeeded his father as duke in 1892, Manchester was to follow in the footsteps of both his father and his grandfather in marrying the daughters of wealthy Americans. Unlike either of them, his marriage wasn't to last and by 1931 the couple had divorced and the duke went to on marry an actress called Kathleen Dawes the same year.Despite the three dukes each marrying into American fortunes each seemed to be inclined to live beyond their means and so by the time of the 9th Duke, described as a spendthrift, the family fortunes were depleted. As such the duke was to spend much of his life abroad trying to hide from his debts. When he died in February 1947 his son Alexander was left with little and so was forced to sell Kimbolton Castle, which had been the family seat of the earls and later dukes of Manchester since 1615. The sales seem to have started by at least March 1949 when it would seem an initial auction of some of the family silver was held at Christie's. By July of the same year, the sales accelerated with a four-day auction held on the castle grounds by Knight, Frank and Rutley, including everything from family portraits by the likes of Kneller and Reynolds to a mangle by Harrods which had previously been in the laundry at Kimbolton. There was a quantity of silver in the sale, including a rosewater dish and ewer described as Augsburg, circa 1610 but most of what was included in the sale was domestic plate such as cigarette-boxes and table-services and there was certainly nothing to match the description of the present plates. As such it is possible that the present plates were sold in the earlier Christie's sale.Condition report: Each marked underneath and further stamped with retailers name. There is some overall surface scratching and wear, consistent with age and use. The wear is noticeable as very minor losses to the gilding.
