A very fine and rare George III Egg Boiler made in London in 1803 by John Edwards III
A very fine and rare George III Egg Boiler made in London in 1803 by John Edwards III
375243
The Egg Boiler comprises of a cylindrical container with a double hinged lid, with ball finials. Each side displays a reeded harp shaped handle. The container has a stand with four scroll legs, with detailed paw feet, and a central spirt burner, with removable cover. The upper mechanism contains a wire frame with four cradles to hold eggs and a central oval handle, fitted with an egg timer. All pieces are in excellent condition and are well marked.
This ingenious object would have been used on the breakfast table to boil eggs by opening the double lid of the boiler and placing eggs in the frame inside. Water inside was kept boiling by the lamp burner below, while the egg timer above ensured the perfect cooking time. Only one other is known of this design, this being of the same date, and by the same maker, which was made for King George III and given to him by his daughters on his sixty sixth birthday. It was used in the King’s Breakfast Room at Kew Palace and is still housed within the Royal Collection today.
Both sides are engraved with a contemporary Crest and the front with the inscription:
“CAROLO M PHILLIPPS
AMICITAS PIGNUS
GEORGIUS BUTLER MDCCCVIII”
The Crest is that of Phillips, specifically for Charles March Phillips, ne March, 1779-1862, who was a wealthy radical politician. His father, Thomas March, inherited the Phillips family estates in 1796 and added their name to his own.
Charles March Phillipps was elected to Parliament for Leicestershire in 1818 in a controversial election. He represented it again in 1831-1832 and, following the Great Reform act, Leicestershire North from 1832 to 1837. Phillipps married Harriet Ducarel in 1807 and they had 2 sons and one daughter. Their main seats were Garendon Hall and Grace Dieu Manor, both in Leicestershire.
Amicitas Pignus seem to translate as "a pledge of friendship". Phillipps was educated at Sidney Sussex College Cambridge from 1800 (matriculation) to 1802 (B.A.). There was a George Butler (1774-1853) at Sidney Sussex College from 1790 to 1794 and then a tutor there. Butler went on to be Headmaster of Harrow from 1805-1829. It is very probable that George Butler and Charles March Phillips were friends. There are other links between the two men- Butler's daughter Gertrude converted to Catholicism, not a common thing among the gentry in 19th century England, as did March-Phillips' son Ambrose.
John Edwards III was a very fine silversmith and was apprentice to Paul Storr’s partner, William Frisbee. The surviving work bearing his maker’s mark shows a high standard of design and execution. He seems to have produced a number of fine silver gilt tea services and other domestic plate. As partner of Frisbee, he must have been in the circle which included the young Paul Storr.
Height: 13.5 inches, 33.75 cm
Length, handle to handle: 7.5 inches, 18.75 cm.
Diameter of the central container: 5.4 inches, 13.5 cm.
Total Weight: 41 oz.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1760-1830/a-very-fine-and-rare-george-iii-egg-boiler-made-in-london-in-1803-by-john-edwards-iii&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/6733a5668d2dd_image_url_ap11e.jpg&description=The Egg Boiler comprises of a cylindrical container with a double hinged lid, with ball finials. Each side displays a reeded harp shaped handle. The container has a stand with four scroll legs, with detailed paw feet, and a central spirt burner, with removable cover. The upper mechanism contains a wire frame with four cradles to hold eggs and a central oval handle, fitted with an egg timer. All pieces are in excellent condition and are well marked. This ingenious object would have been used on the breakfast table to boil eggs by opening the double lid of the boiler and placing eggs in the frame inside. Water inside was kept boiling by the lamp burner below, while the egg timer above ensured the perfect cooking time. Only one other is known of this design, this being of the same date, and by the same maker, which was made for King George III and given to him by his daughters on his sixty sixth birthday. It was used in the King’s Breakfast Room at Kew Palace and is still housed within the Royal Collection today.Both sides are engraved with a contemporary Crest and the front with the inscription: “CAROLO M PHILLIPPSAMICITAS PIGNUSGEORGIUS BUTLER MDCCCVIII” The Crest is that of Phillips, specifically for Charles March Phillips, ne March, 1779-1862, who was a wealthy radical politician. His father, Thomas March, inherited the Phillips family estates in 1796 and added their name to his own.Charles March Phillipps was elected to Parliament for Leicestershire in 1818 in a controversial election. He represented it again in 1831-1832 and, following the Great Reform act, Leicestershire North from 1832 to 1837. Phillipps married Harriet Ducarel in 1807 and they had 2 sons and one daughter. Their main seats were Garendon Hall and Grace Dieu Manor, both in Leicestershire.Amicitas Pignus seem to translate as "a pledge of friendship". Phillipps was educated at Sidney Sussex College Cambridge from 1800 (matriculation) to 1802 (B.A.). There was a George Butler (1774-1853) at Sidney Sussex College from 1790 to 1794 and then a tutor there. Butler went on to be Headmaster of Harrow from 1805-1829. It is very probable that George Butler and Charles March Phillips were friends. There are other links between the two men- Butler's daughter Gertrude converted to Catholicism, not a common thing among the gentry in 19th century England, as did March-Phillips' son Ambrose.John Edwards III was a very fine silversmith and was apprentice to Paul Storr’s partner, William Frisbee. The surviving work bearing his maker’s mark shows a high standard of design and execution. He seems to have produced a number of fine silver gilt tea services and other domestic plate. As partner of Frisbee, he must have been in the circle which included the young Paul Storr.Height: 13.5 inches, 33.75 cmLength, handle to handle: 7.5 inches, 18.75 cm.Diameter of the central container: 5.4 inches, 13.5 cm.Total Weight: 41 oz.){kind=link}