Hull silver tankard by Abraham Barachin – £9000 at David Duggleby.
It had been adopted in the early 17th century, inspired by Hull’s Royal Charter granted by Edward I, becoming officially Kingston (King’s Town) upon Hull.
By the late 17th century Edward and Katherine Mangie (or Mangy) were the most prominent manufacturers in the town.
In 1951, when Kingston-upon-Hull Museum held an exhibition as part of the Festival of Britain which displayed most of the known 101 pieces of extant Hull silver at that time, almost one third were by Mangie or his widow. Katherine had continued to operate the business, using journeymen and apprentices, into the 18th century. Edward Mangie Jr joined the firm in 1695.
Thomas Hebden, once apprenticed to Edward Sr, set up his own business when free – a strong competitor to Katherine. When Hebden died in 1695 his widow married his apprentice: Huguenot journeyman Barachin, who bought his freedom in 1706. The last working silversmith in Hull was thought to be Barachin’s apprentice, Hawse Bramston, free in 1718.
Around this time provincial marking of silver was formally abolished to be replaced with a formal structure of assay offices and silver made in Hull was sent to either York or Newcastle for assay. The last pieces to bear the Hull town mark were a communion cup and a ladle of c.1708-10.
A tankard offered at Scarborough saleroom David Duggleby (21% buyer’s premium) on June 24 featured a body engraved with a later eagle crest and was hallmarked for Barachin, c.1706, the body and cover stamped once with a maker’s mark and twice with the Hull town mark.
The 7in (18cm) high tankard, weighing about 21.46ozt (667.7gms), was described as showing “wear commensurate with age and use, including surface scratches and nicks. Some dimpling around handle, and a few small light indentations here and there. Hallmarks with wear.”
Hull-related memorabilia
Estimated at £5000-7000 in the auction titled History & Memories including Hull & Yorkshire, it sold for £9000. David Duggleby valuer and catalogue curator Dannielle Blackledge said: “The tankard was consigned as part of a lifetime collection of Hull-related memorabilia put together over the course of 50 years by a private vendor. The collection formed a major part of the sale. There was much interest in the Hull silver, and particularly in the tankard which sold online to a UK buyer.”
A William & Mary silver trefid spoon with rattail bowl, bottom struck, hallmarked Thomas Hebden, Hull, c.1689, took a within-estimate £850. From the same period, a porringer initialled TF, SD and dated 98, also inscribed beneath with a date of 1698, hallmarked for Katherine Mangie, Hull, c.1697, made £3300 (guide £2000-3000).
In November last year Chiswick Auctions sold a Charles II silver mounted coconut cup with marks for Edward Mangie (1634-85) for a hammer price of £12,000 (see ATG No 2519).
