The Mary Eleanor Hibbert Cape Silver Collection
Live Virtual Auction, 9 July 2025
The Mary Eleanor Hibbert Collection
About the SessionThis auction features the notable private Cape silver collection of Mary Eleanor Hibbert assembled over many decades and featuring rare pieces, including a double beaker, alms dish, sugar bowls, snuff boxes and 18ct gold clasps from the golden age of Cape silversmithing. Master silversmiths included in this collection are Willem Godfried Lotter, Lawrence Holme Twentyman, Johannes Casparus Lotter, Johan Hendrik Vos and Jan Lotter.
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About this Item
Provenance
The Mary Eleanor Hibbert Collection
Notes
John Townsend was an active goldsmith, jeweller, and later auctioneer in Cape Town from 1824 to 1841, though his birth and death dates are unknown. He began his career at 9 Berg Street (1824–1825), then moved to 4 Longmarket Street in 1826, followed by 5 Longmarket Street (1827–1829), 1 Market Square (1830–1832), and 5 Heerengracht (1833–1835). In 1836, he operated a manufactory of plate and jewellery at 1a St John Street, returning to 5 Heerengracht from 1838 to 1841, where he expanded his services to include watchmaking. During this time, he became part of the firm Bevil and Townsend, Auctioneers and Appraisers (1841), and later joined Deneys Brothers & Company at 16 Heerengracht (1842–1844), continuing there as an auctioneer until 1846. His earlier business address (1833–1837) was shared with Adams and Daniel, and from 1837 to 1841, with Peter Clarke Daniel.
Stephan Welz (1976) Cape Silver and Silversmiths, Cape Town: AA Balkema.
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