Important Silversmiths – Charles Hancock & Co.
Antique 19th Century Monumental Victorian Solid Silver Flagon, of waisted cylindrical form with a mythological Kraken mask spout, and male term monopedia handle, the sides decorated with wreathed panels of winged classical nudes, the hinged cover surmounted by a realistically modelled composition of a Ottoman equestrian standing beside his Arabian horse.
REFERENCE NUMBER: A3151
Charles Frederick Hancock, born in Birmingham in 1809, founded the company in 1849, after terminating his partnership with Storr & Mortimer. In the same year he opened his first shop at 39 Bruton Street and a few months later received the first Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria. In 1851 the firm exhibited at the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace in London. Five years later Queen Victoria granted Hancock the making of the Victoria Cross, one of the most important military awards for the British Army, a privilege that the company still upholds.
The firm’s reputation quickly grew at home and abroad and Hancock participated to the most important World Fairs, such as Paris in 1867 and Vienna 1873, being awarded several times and obtaining royal commissions from across Europe.
Antique 20th Century Edwardian solid silver monumental cup & cover, campana form, particularly large and heavy gauge, applied with foliage, cast scroll handles with realistically modelled maidens heads thumbpieces, both sides decorated with mythological scenes of Neptune and Amphitrite flanked by cherubs, merman and sea horses. The cover also chased and applied with scrolls and flowers and a rather large artichoke scroll finial.
Reference Number: C5098
19th Century Victorian Silver very large baluster shaped lidded wine jug, richly parcel gilt, extraordinarily well embossed in high-relief with Dutch inspired scenes depicting two courting couples on a boat in a landscape. The quality of the workmanship is very high and the subject is particularly lovable. The cast handle with faux Ivory insulators is modelled as branches of grapevine with leaves. Hallmarked English Silver (925), London, year 1854 (T), Maker's mark R.H for Robert Hennell III.
C. F. Hancock permanently retired in 1870 and his sons Mortimer and Charles Frederick Jr., together with their partners Henri Dore and Horatio Stewart took over the business, changing its name in Hancocks & Co.
Up to the present day the company has been granted four Royal Warrants. It is currently active under the directorship of Steven Burton and in 1997 moved to his current location in Burlington Arcade.