A very fine and unusual George III Argyle made in London in 1785 by William Plummer.
A very fine and unusual George III Argyle made in London in 1785 by William Plummer.
176449
The Argyle stands on a square pedestal foot which is decorated with beading. The vase shaped main body also has a beaded rim and the hinged high domed cover terminates in a bud finial and has a beaded border below. This example has a slender swan neck spout and fruit wood handle, attached to the main body with acanthus foliate mouldings. The Argyle has an outer hot water jacket which can be filled by a hinged sparrow beak section, to keep the contents hot. This piece is not engraved and has no signs of erasure. It is also fully marked on the foot and with the makers mark and sterling mark on the cover.
Argyles are generally accepted to have been containers for gravy or sauce, the design incorporating some form of heat preserving element. The credit for inventing these pieces goes to the 3rd Duke of Argyll, as he and his Duchess became tired of their sauces arriving cold at the dining table at Inverary Castle. Their greatest period of popularity was from 1765-1820. This is a particular attractive design and a near identical example is shown on page 14, fig 4 of The Price Guide to Antique Silver by Peter Waldron, 1982 Edition.
Height: 8 inches, 20cm.
Diameter of the main body: 3.75 inches, 9.38 cm
Weight: 13oz
1785
London
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