A rare George III Bachelor Coffee Biggin made in London in 1805 by Henry Nutting.

A rare George III Bachelor Coffee Biggin made in London in 1805 by Henry Nutting.

£1,650
Reference

375120

Coffee Biggins were not made in great quantity, however to find a bachelor sized biggin is very rare indeed.  The main body is oval in form and rises to a gadrooned band on the neck.  This example has a sparrow beak pouring spout cut out with a heart shaped motif.  The stepped, slightly domed, cover terminates in an urn finial.  This piece has a fruitwood handle, with silver tubular mouldings where they are attached to the main body.  The front is beautifully engraved with a contemporary shield shaped armorial, with the coronet of an Earl above and flanked by unusual male supporters.  The engraving is all surrounded by a detailed cartouche of drapery mantling.  The reverse is engraved with a double Crest below the coronet of an Earl. We are currently having the heraldic engraving traced.   This piece is in quite excellent condition and is fully marked on the base and with the sterling mark and date letter on the underside of the cover.  Henry Nutting was apprentice to Charles Wright, an expert in the production of coffee pots.  His first mark was entered on 9th April, 1796 with workshops at 38, Noble Street, Foster Lane.

The Armorial and Crests are those of Charles William Bury (1764-1835) who sat as a Member of the Irish Parliament for Kilmallock in 1790 and from 1792 to 1797.  He was created Baron Tullamore in 1797, Viscount Charleville in 1800 and Earl of Charleville in 1806.  From 1801 he served as a Representative Irish peer in Westminster and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1803 (he was elected to the Society of Antiquaries in 1814).  In Ireland he served as President of the Irish Academy from 1812-1822.  In 1798 he married Catherine Maria Dawson, daughter of Thomas Townley Dawson and widow of James Tisdall.  Their seat was the impressive Charleville Castle.  This rare piece was probably purchased to celbrate the elevation of Viscount Charleville, to the 1st Earl of Charleville.  Their seat was the beautiful Charleville Castle, County Offaly, bordering the town of Tullamore near the river Clodlagh.

Height: 7 inches, 17.5 cm.

Length, handle to spout: 7.5 inches, 18.75 cm.

Width: 3 inches, 7.5 cm.

Weight: 15 oz in weight.


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