American War of 1812 historical interest – Good George II si...

Estimate

£2,500 - £3,500

American War of 1812 historical interest – Good George II silver baluster coffee pot, inscribed 'Retrieved from The President's Palace Aug 24th 1814, 2nd Lieut Lewis Agassiz, RM', with crest of a flaming torch, maker Elizabeth Godfrey, London 1742, 22cm high, 21oz approx, from the property - Victorian silver small tankard, with same family crest of a flaming torch, maker John & Henry Lias, 8cm high, 4oz approx (2)
Second Lieutenant Lewis Agassiz (1793-1866) was leading one of the firing parties into Washington D.C. To reward his efforts in the battle and for reportedly being the first soldier to go forth and torch the Whitehouse the Agassiz family was granted a Coat of Arms by the British Crown. The coat of arms gifted to the family depicts a burning torch and can be seen etched into the main body of the coffee pot.
The burning was one of the final events of the often-forgotten War of 1812, a conflict which saw the US try and fail to secure Canadian territory and Britain try and fail to blockade the US. British troops torched the White House, Treasury and parts of the Capitol Building in a punitive mission near the end of the war. They also looted what they could, effectively collecting "souvenirs".
While much of the Whitehouse’s documents, valuables and artwork were rounded up by First Lady Dolley Maddison in the days prior to the ransacking many were left behind in the panic.
Agazzis collected the coffee pot during the aforementioned ransacking and later returned the relic to England where it was etched with the inscription and his newly acquired Coat of Arms. The piece likely formed part of the extensive table service prepared for over forty military and cabinet officers expected for dinner by Dolley Madison.
It wasn’t unusual to see English hallmarked silver in distinguished homes in the U.S during this period due to its superior quality. English silversmiths were more able to maintain consistent quality than their American counterparts and as a result wealthy Americans imported English silver goods to the Colonies.
Some observers allege that most of the spoils of war taken during the sack were lost when a convoy of British ships led by HMS Fantome sank en route to Halifax off Prospect during a storm on the night of November 24, 1814. Making the already special piece a very unusual survivor of the period.
‘Trophies’ from the event were allowed to remain with the respective families of soldiers due to the American Civil War-era "Lieber Code". The US declared that items captured from an enemy in time of war can be kept. The laws only applied to American forces, but other states adopted similar regulations. Since then, several international laws prohibiting wartime looting have been created, but the original code also remains in effect.
The piece has remained in the Agazzis family and was entered into the auction by a relative of Lewis Agassiz. Accompanying the coffee pot is a later Victorian silver cup having the same crest etching also coming from the family.