This major international symposium celebrates the opening of Silver: Paul de Lamerie from the Cahn collection at thePowerhouse Museum, a spectacular exhibition drawing on the renowned American collection of Paul and Elissa Cahn. Paulde Lamerie (1688–1751) was England’s greatest 18th century silversmith and one of the first to adopt the Rococo style. The symposium will bring his world to life, with distinguished speakers, including experts from the USA and London’s V&A Museum, focusing on one of the greatest eras of silver work and fine art. Paul Cahn will host an exclusive session for the symposium where participants will be able to handle and discuss examples of silver by de Lamerie and his eminent contemporaries.
Program *
From 9.30 am Registration, coffee, tea
10.00–10.05 am Welcome
10.05–10.15 am Introduction by Eva Czernis-Ryl, Curator, decorative arts and design, PHM
10.15– 10.20 am Address by Paul Cahn, collector and benefactor
10.15–11.00 am Robert Nash, Huguenot Society of Australia
Who were the Huguenots and why did they leave France?
The Huguenots were the Protestants of France who, although always in a minority, had a distinct influence on French life and culture from the 16th century onwards. They
survived bitter religious warfare and persecution and in the late 17th century some two
hundred thousand Huguenots were forced into exile, with many settling in England. De
Lamerie’s family was among them.
11.00–11.45 am Ellenor Alcorn Paul De Lamerie expert and author, USA
The ‘Englishness’ of Paul de Lamerie
Paul de Lamerie was the most prolific London goldsmith of the 18th century. Although
born and trained abroad, the products of his workshop are quintessentially English.
Ellenor Alcorn will explore the unique circumstances that allowed this great impresario
to flourish in London's successful luxury market.
11.45 am – 12.15 pm Morning tea
12.15–1.00 pm Tessa Murdoch, Deputy Keeper, Sculpture, Metalwork & Glass, V&A Museum, UK
The luxury trades in London's West End 1700–1750
Paul de Lamerie grew up in London's Soho district in a community dominated by French refugees, many of whom worked as specialist suppliers to the luxury market. This paper places de Lamerie's life and work in the context of the many other luxury trades at the time, including cabinet-making, lock smithing and watch and clock making, which benefited from the influx of skilled migrants.
1.00–1.45 pm David Conradsen, Curator, Decorative arts and design, St Louis Art Museum, USA
Paul de Lamerie's Rococo: from Classicism to Naturalism
This paper will focus on two masterpieces from the Cahn collection: the Maynard Dish and the Turtle Tureen. It will look at the evolution of the rococo style from the classical allusions created by the Maynard Master to the extreme naturalism of the Turtle Tureen.
1.45–2.30 pm Lunch
2.30–3.30 pm Silver handling session hosted by Paul Cahn
3.30–4.30 pm Silver: Paul de Lamerie from the Cahn collection exhibition tour
4.30 pm Symposium close: Eva Czernis-Ryl
4.00–5.00 pm Coffee/tea available
* program subject to change
