Lawrence Holme Twentyman
Active 1818- 1852
Born on 5 May 1793 in Liverpool, he was the son of John Middleton Twentyman and Phoebe Holme. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship as a clock and watchmaker. He arrived at the Cape on 12 June 1818 aboard the Ann. In his Memorial to the Cape Governor seeking permission to remain at the Cape he described himself as a qualified clock and watchmaker. Married Betsy Burrell on 24 March 1821. Lawrence, his wife and three children were granted a permit to leave the Cape on 8 March 1832. He returned to the Cape for short periods in 1835, 1837, 1844 and in 1846. Died on 8 June 1852 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery.
A rare Cape silver dessert spoon in the Kings pattern, made by Lawrence Twentyman. The spoon is excellent quality, as is usual for Cape silver Kings pattern, and has a very pleasing weight. The Kings pattern is double struck (on both sides), and this spoon has not been engraved. The spoon has 5 clear hallmarks, makers mark LT and 4 pseudo hallmarks, all individually struck. They include pseudo lion passant, Georgian duty mark, date letter a and crowned leopards head town mark, this is mark 135 in the book Cape Silver by Stephan Welz. Cape silver Kings pattern was only made by 2 silversmiths in the Cape, Twentyman and Fredrik Waldek, who took over Twentymans’ workshops when he left the Cape for India.
Weight: 63 grams
Dimensions: 18 cm
Provenance: Leopard Antiques