A very fine pair of George III Hash/Breakfast Dishes made in London in 1787 by John Schofield.
A very fine pair of George III Hash/Breakfast Dishes made in London in 1787 by John Schofield.
375320
The bases are of a deep oval form and rise to a rim decorated with prick dot bands and an applied band of beading. The two cast side handles are also decorated with beading with oval medallions at the end. The base of the dish is engraved with a contemporary Armorial, surrounded by a bright cut oval frame cartouche, which is then surrounded by floral garlands. The domed pull off covers display outer bright cut and prick dot borders, with a band of stylised floral sprigs. Each terminates in a silver mounted fruitwood finial, with silver bell moulding on top. One side of the cover is beautifully engraved with the same Armorial and cartouche which appears in the base and the other side is, again, engraved with the same cartouche, however it contains the family's Crest. The dishes are well marked on the base and the underside of the cover and are in excellent condition, the bases showing limited wear commensurate with their use. The quality of design and production is very fine, as would be expected from this silversmith who was patronised by George III and the Prince of Wales, later George IV, when furnishing Carlton House on the Mall. Either on his own, or in partnership with Robert Jones, his work is exceptional. A.G. Grimwade in "London Goldsmiths 1697-1837", states that " In his candlesticks and candelabra Schofield displays a high degree of elegant design executed with impeccable craftsmanship, which rivals at best the contemporary French goldsmith, Henri Auguste. It was perhaps the restrained taste of the period that prevented Schofield from displaying a virtuosity which might well have given him a reputation equal with Lamerie or Storr . No one could mount glass better, as is shown by his cruet in the Rotch Collection (Victoria & Albert Museum). It seems likely that he also worked for Jeffrey's, Jones and Gilbert, the then Royal goldsmiths, and that he may have made considerable commissions for Carlton House".
The Armorial and Crest are those of William Raikes (1738-1808), image shown, and his wife Martha Pelly Matthew (1743-1797). The two were incredibly wealthy, as he was a director of the South Sea Company and Commercial Commissioner under the Incomes Act. Her father was Job Matthew, a Governor of the Bank of England. They lived in great style at Valentines Mansion, also shown, in Ilford Essex, when these dishes were made. The couple had a mausoleum built at Woodford Church in Essex, also shown. William Raikes built this in 1797 for his wife who had died in that year. Her father is also buried here, which is modelled in a square Neo Classical design with segmental pediments. The stone barrel vault, being surmounted by a sarcophagus with grasping rings at either end.
Length: 14.8 inches, 37 cm.
Width: 8.5 inches, 21.25 cm.
Height, to the top of the finial: 5 inches, 12.5 cm.
Weight: 66oz, the pair.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1760-1830/a-very-fine-pair-of-george-iii-hashbreakfast-dishes-made-in-london-in-1787-by-john-schofield&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/67bca63339759_image_url_aw34b.jpg&description=The bases are of a deep oval form and rise to a rim decorated with prick dot bands and an applied band of beading. The two cast side handles are also decorated with beading with oval medallions at the end. The base of the dish is engraved with a contemporary Armorial, surrounded by a bright cut oval frame cartouche, which is then surrounded by floral garlands. The domed pull off covers display outer bright cut and prick dot borders, with a band of stylised floral sprigs. Each terminates in a silver mounted fruitwood finial, with silver bell moulding on top. One side of the cover is beautifully engraved with the same Armorial and cartouche which appears in the base and the other side is, again, engraved with the same cartouche, however it contains the family's Crest. The dishes are well marked on the base and the underside of the cover and are in excellent condition, the bases showing limited wear commensurate with their use. The quality of design and production is very fine, as would be expected from this silversmith who was patronised by George III and the Prince of Wales, later George IV, when furnishing Carlton House on the Mall. Either on his own, or in partnership with Robert Jones, his work is exceptional. A.G. Grimwade in "London Goldsmiths 1697-1837", states that " In his candlesticks and candelabra Schofield displays a high degree of elegant design executed with impeccable craftsmanship, which rivals at best the contemporary French goldsmith, Henri Auguste. It was perhaps the restrained taste of the period that prevented Schofield from displaying a virtuosity which might well have given him a reputation equal with Lamerie or Storr . No one could mount glass better, as is shown by his cruet in the Rotch Collection (Victoria & Albert Museum). It seems likely that he also worked for Jeffrey's, Jones and Gilbert, the then Royal goldsmiths, and that he may have made considerable commissions for Carlton House". The Armorial and Crest are those of William Raikes (1738-1808), image shown, and his wife Martha Pelly Matthew (1743-1797). The two were incredibly wealthy, as he was a director of the South Sea Company and Commercial Commissioner under the Incomes Act. Her father was Job Matthew, a Governor of the Bank of England. They lived in great style at Valentines Mansion, also shown, in Ilford Essex, when these dishes were made. The couple had a mausoleum built at Woodford Church in Essex, also shown. William Raikes built this in 1797 for his wife who had died in that year. Her father is also buried here, which is modelled in a square Neo Classical design with segmental pediments. The stone barrel vault, being surmounted by a sarcophagus with grasping rings at either end.Length: 14.8 inches, 37 cm.Width: 8.5 inches, 21.25 cm.Height, to the top of the finial: 5 inches, 12.5 cm.Weight: 66oz, the pair.){kind=link}