BENJAMIN PYNE. An exceptional George I Britannia Standard Toilet Box made in London in 1719 by Benjamin Pyne.
BENJAMIN PYNE. An exceptional George I Britannia Standard Toilet Box made in London in 1719 by Benjamin Pyne.
375691
The Box is of outstanding quality and is of a circular form, standing on a spreading foot decorated with reeding. The top section of the main body displays a protruding girdle, where the pull off cover settles when put on. The slightly domed cover is also decorated with reeding and displays a circular frame which contains a contemporary Armorial surrounded by a scroll and strap work cartouche, with engraved mask above. The Arms are those of Hunloke impaling Throgmorton for Sir Thomas Windsor Hunloke (1684-1752), 3rd Bt. of Wingerworth Hall, Co. Derby, who in 1720 married Charlotte (1700-1738), daughter of Sir Robert Throckmorton, 2nd Bt, of Coughton. It is possible that this box may have been given to celebrate their marriage.
Pyne, originally from Devon, was the son of Humfry Pyne and was apprenticed to George Bowers for eight years from 1667, gaining his freedom of the Goldsmiths’ Company in September 1676. He variously appears in the records of the Goldsmiths’ Company and other accounts through the last years of the 17th and into the 18thcentury; for example, his marriage is recorded to Susanna Salisbury in 1682, as is the baptism of eight children, of whom only two appear to have survived to adulthood. He was known to have worked for the banker Sir Richard Hoare and was to serve as Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company in 1725. The quality of his work was recognised by his appointment as subordinate goldsmith for the Coronation of George I and he was to be described as ‘… in the front rank of London goldsmiths.’ (A. Grimwade, London Goldsmiths 1697-1837 Their Marks and Lives, London, 1990, p. 635).
The Box is fully marked on the base and with the maker's mark and leopard's head erased on the cover. The quality and weight is outstanding, as would be expected from this highly desirable silversmith. This piece is in quite excellent condition and has a fine colour.
Height: 2.3 inches, 5.75 cm.
Diameter: 3.2 inches, 8 cm.
Weight: 10oz.
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, 3rd Bt. of Wingerworth Hall, Co. Derby, who in 1720 married Charlotte (1700-1738), daughter of Sir Robert Throckmorton, 2nd Bt, of Coughton. It is possible that this box may have been given to celebrate their marriage.Pyne, originally from Devon, was the son of Humfry Pyne and was apprenticed to George Bowers for eight years from 1667, gaining his freedom of the Goldsmiths’ Company in September 1676. He variously appears in the records of the Goldsmiths’ Company and other accounts through the last years of the 17th and into the 18thcentury; for example, his marriage is recorded to Susanna Salisbury in 1682, as is the baptism of eight children, of whom only two appear to have survived to adulthood. He was known to have worked for the banker Sir Richard Hoare and was to serve as Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company in 1725. The quality of his work was recognised by his appointment as subordinate goldsmith for the Coronation of George I and he was to be described as ‘… in the front rank of London goldsmiths.’ (A. Grimwade, London Goldsmiths 1697-1837 Their Marks and Lives, London, 1990, p. 635). The Box is fully marked on the base and with the maker's mark and leopard's head erased on the cover. The quality and weight is outstanding, as would be expected from this highly desirable silversmith. This piece is in quite excellent condition and has a fine colour.Height: 2.3 inches, 5.75 cm.Diameter: 3.2 inches, 8 cm.Weight: 10oz.){kind=link}