An extremely rare George II silver gilt 'peach cup' cream jug, London circa 1750 by William Cripps (reg. 31st Aug 1743)

Directly modelled after a Chinese Yixing Zisha pottery example. Formed as a half section of a peach, the cast and applied pedicel stalk section with twisting prunus branch and flower over the back of the bowl. An incised line to the rim. Marked with maker’s mark W.C in a shaped punch thrice to the rim. Additionally struck with a French control mark, probably a cassolette for Henry Clavel 1780-89 (Beuque 4.013) or possibly discharge of Jean-Jacques Prevost Dijon 1762-68 (Beuque 4.021). Housed in a contemporary presentation case paired with a Chinese Yixing Zisha example.

Length – 11.4 cm / 4.45 inches

Weight – 141 grams / 4.53 ozt

Case length – 27 cm / 10.7 inches

Peach form Yixing Zisha cups were certainly made from the 17^th century, such as an example Paul Moss, Emperor, Scholar, Artisan, Monk, London, 1984, p.200, pl.67, where they were made by makers such as Chen Mingyuan or Chen Ziqi, potters from the Kangxi and early Qing period. It is therefore perfectly feasible for example to have been in London approximately 50 years before this silver example was made likely between Cripps registering this mark in August 1743 and his next mark on the 16th November 1751. Cast silver cream jugs form the first half of the 18^th century are a particularly well considered topic as they were produced by a variety of makers and are often completely unmarked if not on occasion maker’s mark only. For a survey of 18^th century English and Irish cream jugs see the Munro collection, Wark, R. (1978). British Silver in the Huntington Collection, Castle Press, California, p. 49-73. One of these jugs (ibid, P.61, f. 143) is also by Cripps of 1749, another example of which, same year, was sold Christie’s London 15 July 2020, lot 219 (£33,750 incl.prem).

The importance of William Cripps as a member of the "Lamerie Group" was examined by Christopher Hartop in The Huguenot Legacy, Boston, 1996, p. 52. Apprenticed to David Willaume II ansd free 2nd May 1738. In 1742 Cripps took over premises which had previously been occupied by Christian Hillan the Crown and Golden Ball, Compton Street, next door to Nicholas Sprimont, Soho, both leading rococo silversmiths, the latter was also the founder of the Chelsea porcelain factory and one which certainly used the peach shape in their plates and dishes. In 1746 Cripps moved a small distance to St. James's but the influence of these silversmiths continued for there is great similarity between work bearing Cripps' mark and that of de Lamerie, Henry Hayens, Philips Garden, and others. We know that Cripps supplied Garden with finished silver, indeed Garden may have been a retailer and not a manufacturer at all. It may be that it was Cripps and not Garden, as is generally supposed, who purchased Paul de Lamerie's 'curious patterns and tools' at Mr. Langford's auction the year following Lamerie's death in 1751. Lamerie's last apprentice, Samuel Hodgson, joined Cripps's workshop after the former's death.

This jug was subjected to full XRF analysis at Goldsmiths Hall finding that:

The main body:

Ag – 918.2

Cu – 78.7

Pb – 2.1

Au – 1.0

The decoration:

Ag – 927.9

Cu – 64.8

Pb – 4.9

Au – 2.4

Thus, demonstrating an alloy consistent with that of 18^th century English manufacture and not the higher levels of silver (often 980) associated with Chinese made manufacture or the presence of trace iron associated with Kangxi silversmithing, which may then be marked in England upon export. See a Kangxi tea bowl, with Queen Anne handles of 1705 by David Willaume I, sold these rooms, 23 March 2023, lot 537 (£18,750 incl. prem).

This extraordinary example of English ‘chinoiserie’ may very well be a unique survivor of a moment when the artistic repertoire of English silver was undergoing much expansion in the 1740’s drawing influence from the continent, the orient and convulsions of nature.