Description:

16th/17th C. Spanish Brass Ewer, Ex-W.R. Hearst Collection, With Outstanding Provenance

A 16th/17th century Spanish ewer, formerly part of the private art collection of millionaire businessman William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951). The item is accompanied by supporting documentation from the Hammer Galleries, a New York City-based auction house, and the William Randolph Hearst Archive affiliated with Long Island University.

The large brass ewer engraved with ornate animal, floral, and foliate decoration inspired by traditional Moorish design has a lovely form, with a gracefully upturned spout, bulbous body, and round foot. No identifying maker's mark or artist's signature could be found. The C-shaped handle is attached to the vessel body with hammered bolts. The lot number associated with the Hammer Galleries sale, "XF 305," is inscribed in wax-based crayon on the underside of the foot. Expected negligible surface wear consistent with age. The edge of the spout is slightly cracked. Else near fine, and with a rich, dark patina. Measures approximately 14.5" high x 10" wide x 9" deep.

This brass ewer was just part of Hearst's world-renowned collection of art and antiquities, valued at $35 million in 1935. We can learn more about what Hearst collected by studying the purchase and shipping records from a Bronx warehouse that temporarily stored Hearst's collection during this era. The 125 albums of sales catalogs, drawings, photographs, receipts, and correspondence were later acquired by Long Island University and formed the nucleus of the William Randolph Hearst Archive. Album #70 of this archive, categorized as "Pottery, China, and Glassware from Bohemia, America, the United Kingdom, Venice, the Netherlands, and Miscellaneous" lists Item #33 as "A vase and two ewers, Spanish, XVI-XVII century" that likely corresponds to our brass ewer. (See attached images.)

Hearst appeared to be particularly partial to Spanish antiquities from the medieval to the Baroque periods; other warehouse records show entries for Spanish weapons, such as a mace, halberd, carbine, etc.; human armor and horse trappings; altarpieces, religious paintings, and relics; decorative elements salvaged from a Spanish castle and a Cistercian monastery; and a hodgepodge of utilitarian items such as andirons, a chessboard, majolica tiles, and candlesticks. The Spanish items were displayed alongside thousands of other pieces of furniture, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, silver, tapestries, rugs, religious accoutrements, arms, rare books, autographs, and architectural elements collected from around the world.

Hearst's collection of art and antiquities was displayed at his various properties: at Hearst Castle at San Simeon, California; at the "Ocean House," the 100+ room Georgian Revival mansion in Santa Monica, California built after 1926 for Hearst's mistress actress Marion Davies; and at Hearst's Wyntoon Estate in northern California, rebuilt in the early 1930s to resemble a Bavarian hamlet. Hearst almost certainly furnished other properties that he rented or owned as well. The collection was also housed in storage facilities in San Francisco and New York.

The brass ewer is accompanied by an undated typed document on "Hammer Galleries" letterhead from the Hammer Galleries with a catalog description of XF-305, "A 17th Century Spanish Brass Ewer with Engraved Floral Decorations." The Hammer Galleries, an auction house established in New York City in 1928 by Dr. Armand Hammer (1898-1990), still operates today. The background information of the object catalog description reads in part: "In assembling his magnificent objects of art and furnishings, Mr. Hearst was assisted by the world's leading experts and art dealers who combed the earth to add new treasures to this vast collection which is considered the world's greatest private collection of art treasures…" The name listed at the bottom of the catalog description is probably that of the successful buyer: Mr. William H. Shimp of Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

We were unable to ascertain when exactly Hearst's Spanish brass ewer was offered at auction by the Hammer Galleries, who handled Hearst collection sales. There are records of a sale of Hearst collectibles at the Hammer Galleries to benefit the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in 1941, but our Spanish ewer is not listed in the selective catalog. It is also unknown under what circumstances Hearst consigned this brass ewer to auction. Though he was very active in charitable giving, Hearst also suffered serious financial reversals during the Depression. The millionaire mogul was forced to belt-tighten, first by mortgaging his real estate, and later by liquidating some of his art collection. Hearst sold pieces in private sales between 1937-1941.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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August 17, 2022 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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