PAST EXHIBITIONS & DISPLAYS

The Audrey Love Collection

The Audrey Love Collection

The Audrey Love Collection, five candelabra formerly belonging to Frederick, Duke of York (1763-1827)

For the first time in 200 years, major pieces from the most spectacular and stylistically adventurous table garniture of the 19th century were shown together in the Silver Galleries in 2003. The Audrey Love Collection was reunited with a candelabrum given to the Victoria and Albert Museum by Corinne Whiteley and a cistern on loan from the Museum of London.

Frederick, Duke of York (1763-1827) rivalled his older brother the Prince Regent (later George IV) in his taste for fine silver. Both bought large quantities of plate, modern and antique, indulging in an advanced historicist taste. Frederick owned modern French neo-classical silver, as well as antique silver.

Detail from candelabra formerly belonging to Frederick, Duke of York. Audrey Love Collection

He may have been planning a massive table garniture as early as 1817 when he ordered 12 salt cellars in the form of mythical sea creatures. His dining silver commissions show an appreciation of an advanced style which looked to the past for inspiration.

Most of the service bears the mark of the silversmith, Edward Farrell who worked in association with the entrepreneur and retailing silversmith, Kensington Lewis. The Duke also ordered silver from the Royal Goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge and Rundell.

More dining silver commissions, such as a grand cistern of 1826 (on loan to the V&A from the Museum of London), may have been intended to furnish the new home that the Duke was building in London, then known as York House.

The Rococo extravagance of the house, described by the diarist CR Cockerell as 'the worst of Louis XIV', would have been complemented by the innovative but eclectic taste of the silver.

Detail from candelabra formerly belonging to Frederick, Duke of York. Audrey Love Collection

These candelabra pay eloquent testimony to the Duke’s extravagance. According to A Biographical Memoir of Frederick Duke of York and Albany, written by John Watkins in 1827, Frederick 'was inattentive to his pecuniary affairs, in consequence of which he fell into many difficulties, and in some instances his name stood on tradesman’s books. This was the case particularly with Messrs Rundell and Bridge, the silversmiths and jewellers, on Ludgate Hill.'

On his death in 1827, the Duke of York left debts of between £200,000 and £500,000 and his silver was sold at auction for over £22,000.

		Centrepiece : 9-light candelabrum showing Hercules attacking the Hydra Silver-gilt London, 1824-5 with nozzles, 1825-6 Mark of Edward Farrell
		A pair of 6-light candelabra Silver-gilt London, 1819-26 Mark of Edward Farrell beneath the base of one Mark of Paul Storr on each
		A pair of 4-light candelabra Silver-gilt London, 1819-20 Mark of Paul Storr

Museum's companion piece

Candelabrum Silver-gilt London, 1818-19 Mark of Edward Farrell M.22-1999