LONDON.- Bonhams have set a new record for an example of 18th century English glass, and a world record for an example of 18th century Beilby glass with the Prince William V of Orange goblet which sold this week for £117,000, as part of the AC Hubbard Collection of Fine English and Dutch Glass. The previous record for an example of 18th century Beilby glass was £67,000, set by Sotheby’s in 1997.
Simon Cottle, Head of Bonhams Glass Department, comments, “The world record price for the important Prince William V goblet significantly underlines the steady growth in the value of English 18th century glass and emphasises Bonhams continued pre-eminence in this highly specialised market.”
The goblet is signed by William Beilby of the Beilby workshop in Newcastle, which was renowned for its enamel decoration of glass and produced around 90 recorded heraldic decanters, goblets and wine glasses, mainly with English armorials of which a significant handful depict Royal coats of arms. Simon Cottle, Head of Bonhams Glass Department, comments, “The majority of their fine goblets with Royal armorials now reside in public institutions worldwide. The Prince William V of Orange Goblet is one of only four left in private hands. It is also one of only 16 glasses to be signed, and at an imposing 30.2cm in height it is by far the largest of all Beilby goblets. I believe its production may have led William Beilby’s entry to a contemporary valuable Dutch glass market. Its large size and colourful enamel decoration would have been particularly impressive to the Dutch at a time when their craftsmen were producing smaller, engraved pieces.”
Assembled by a discerning Baltimore collector with a passion for fine wines, A C Hubbard Jr.’s collection included examples of the best of English and Dutch glass from the 17th and 18th Centuries, many previously published in the literature on glass. From majestic early heavy baluster goblets of both large and small size to the attractive colour-twist wine glasses of the later period, this private collection was one of the finest to be offered at auction in recent years.
