An unusual George I sterling silver burner stand, London 1726 by James Fraillon (reg. 17th Jan 1711, d. 1727/28)

Formed as three mythical beast supports with beaded section and claw and ball feet. Adjoining a central circular ring and a lower ring with a removable cylindrical burner with a pull-off lid. The rings with flat chased decoration of harebells. The burner lid with a chased acanthus leaf terrace reserved with matted decoration. Fully marked underneath burner, assay marks to each of the stand legs, lion passant to the top of lid, placed over decoration.

Length between feet – 22 cm / 8.75 inches

Weight – 587 grams / 18.87 inches

The unusual design of this burner lends it to various potential functions, there is some similarity between the braziers of the earlier braziers such as the example of 1698 by David Willaume illustrated in Brett, V., (1986), 'The Sotheby's Directory of silver 1600-1940' London p. 160 f. 628 and the pair of 1703 illustrated Clayton. M., 1985. Christie’s Pictorial History of English and American Silver, p.131 f. 16. There is a chafing dish and stand of 1752/54 by Peter Archambo and Peter Meure that is the most similar in the form of the stand to the present lot (illustrated ibid. p. 181, f.4). It may also be that this example was used to warm a coffee pot, as the upper ring with a diameter of 10.2 cm / 4 inches is the correct size of base for George I coffee pots.