| English silversmith Date of Birth: 09.04.1688 Country: Great Britain |
Paul de Lamerie was born in 1688 in 's-Hertogenbosch, in what is now the Netherlands, to a family of French Huguenot immigrants. His family was forced to leave France, and his father began working for William III of Orange. In March 1689, the de Lamerie family moved to London.
In 1703, Paul became an apprentice to Pierre Platel, a London jeweler. At that time, the profession of a jeweler was restricted to individuals from noble families. In February 1712, Paul de Lamerie was mentioned as a master craftsman, and soon after, he joined the guild and established his own hallmark.
Paul de Lamerie quickly gained recognition in London, and his creations became associated with the Rococo style. However, he did not limit himself to a single artistic direction. Some of his works have survived to this day and are held in museums. Notably, many high-ranking individuals, including George Treby, the first Earl Gower, Queen Anne, and Tsarinas Anna and Catherine, were among his clients and patrons.
From the 1730s onwards, de Lamerie increasingly embraced the Rococo style. In 1737, he received his first commission for creating church silverware and made two candelabras for the college chapel in Oxford. The most valuable works attributed to de Lamerie were produced between 1730 and 1740 and are now displayed in museums worldwide.
Paul de Lamerie passed away on August 1, 1751, after a serious illness, and was buried six days later at St. Anne's Church in Soho, Westminster. His obituary in the London Evening Post described him as an outstanding jeweler who contributed to the flourishing silver trade. He left behind his wife, Louisa Juliott, whom he married in February 1717, and three daughters. Two of his sons had passed away during his lifetime.
It is known that de Lamerie, who did not have male heirs to continue his business, left instructions for his unfinished works to be completed by his apprentices. Afterward, the completed pieces were to be sold at auction.