Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 37 25 Sep 2019
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City of London: The Worshipful Company of Distillers, Master's gilt-silver Badge of office, 1852, arms of the Company, the sun draws up a cloud distilling water with a 'distillatory' below, supporters a Russian and Indian savage, each in his proper habit, motto below, DROP AS RAIN, DISTIL AS DEW, rev. bust of Sir Théodore de Mayerne (1573-1655), in 1639 the Company's founder, shown three-quarters left, wearing buttoned tunic and skull-cap, named on ribband above, acanthus leaf suspender, test-marks show on edge, otherwise extremely fine and extremely rare
Sir Théodore de Mayerne was born at Mayern near Geneva. On account of his many scientific talents whilst working in Paris, he was appointed physician to Queen Anne of Denmark, to James I and was knighted in 1624. On James's death he was re-appointed by Charles I, in 1638 obtaining a Royal Charter to regulate the distilling trade in the Cities of London and Westminster and within 21 miles thereof (later extended to 31 miles). The Badge is unsigned, but the portrait would seem to be a reversal of a line engraving by William Elder of the late 17th century. There is a fine coloured drawing of de Mayerne by Peter Paul Rubens and an exceedingly rare medal by Nicolas Briot. The Distillers' Company comment that the 1852 date of their Badge makes it one of the earliest Master's badges of any City Livery Company
(400-600 GBP)
Sir Théodore de Mayerne was born at Mayern near Geneva. On account of his many scientific talents whilst working in Paris, he was appointed physician to Queen Anne of Denmark, to James I and was knighted in 1624. On James's death he was re-appointed by Charles I, in 1638 obtaining a Royal Charter to regulate the distilling trade in the Cities of London and Westminster and within 21 miles thereof (later extended to 31 miles). The Badge is unsigned, but the portrait would seem to be a reversal of a line engraving by William Elder of the late 17th century. There is a fine coloured drawing of de Mayerne by Peter Paul Rubens and an exceedingly rare medal by Nicolas Briot. The Distillers' Company comment that the 1852 date of their Badge makes it one of the earliest Master's badges of any City Livery Company
(400-600 GBP)