A silver model of a Dwarf (1880 Continental)

20152.2

Silver

Circa 1880, signed 'H. NIELI F'

  67.00 cm high

  26.38 inches high

18634.00 Grams

599.16 Troy Ounces

Albert, 6th Earl of Rosebery (1882-1974)
The Estate of the late 6th Earl of Lord Rosebery and his family, Mentmore, Sotheby's House Sale, 19 May 1977, lot 621.

Catalogue of Works of Art at Mentmore, (1884), vol. I, p. 21, no. 36.
J. B. Hawkins, Masterpieces of English and European Silver and Gold, Sydney, 1979, pp. 112-113.
The Glory of the Goldsmith, Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection, 1989, no. 2, p.10-11.

Sydney, The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Masterpieces of English and European Silver and Gold, January, 1980, no. 43.
London, Christie's, The Glory of the Goldsmith, Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection, 1989, no. 2.

In 17th century costume on stepped square plinth with one hand behind his back, the other holding a sword, sheath lacking, his doublet with slashed sleeves, partly covered by a jerkin and short cloak, revealing a lace collar, with foliage chased breeches and long boots applied with rosettes, his spurs inset with jewels, with shoulder length hair, moustache, beard and detachable feathered hat, signed on the base, further stamped indistinctly on base and hat

By tradition this is believed to be a depiction of Sir Jeffery Hudson, a celebrated dwarf in the court of Charles I and Henrietta Maria. Hudson was born in Oakham, Rutland in 1619. His father, a butcher to the Duke of Buckingham, presented him to the Duchess of Buckingham who immediately took him into her service. Hudson was introduced to the King and Queen by emerging from a cold baked pie at a dinner given in their honour.

Hudson became an important part of the court culminating in a trip to France in 1630 when he was captured by pirates at Dunkirk on his return from a journey to the court of France to engage the service of a midwife to assist with the birth of the future Charles II. News of his capture greatly upset the Queen though luckily Hudson was soon freed.

His remained with the Queen while she was in exile during the civil war but was banished from the court as a result of his killing of to the brother of William Crofts whom he shot during a duel. During this exile he again fell into the hands of pirates and was sold into slavery. It was the 2nd Duke of Buckingham who came to his rescue by purchasing his freedom. On his return to England he was arrested in London in the belief that he was involved in the Papish Plot, though was later freed

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