An exceptional George III Serving Dish made in London in 1814 by Thomas Robins.

An exceptional George III Serving Dish made in London in 1814 by Thomas Robins.

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375024

This outstanding Serving Dish has a shaped oval form with raised gadrooned border decorated with raying Rococo shells and scrolls, flanked by acanthus leaves, in addition to anthemions.  One side is engraved with a contemporary Armorial, with Motto below all flanked by heraldic supporters.  The opposite side is engraved with a contemporary Crest.  The Dish is in excellent condition, is very well marked on the reverse and is of an outstanding weight.  This was formerly in the important collection of Jim and Dr Christine Chance, some of which was bequeathed to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and which is now on display in the silver galleries of the museum.

The Arms, Crest and Motto are those of Stirling of Faskine, Co. Lanark, with Goodenough in pretence.  The baronetcy was created in 1800.  Sir Walter Stirling, 1st Baronet (1758-1832) married Susannah Goodenough in 1794.  She died in 1806, however it seemed that he continued to use her arms on his silver.

Sir Walter was born in Philadelphia, the son of Captain Walter Stirling RN of Faskine, Lanark, and his wife Dorothy Willing of Philadelphia.  He was Captain commandant then Major commandant of the Somerset Place Volunteers in 1798, Lieut-Col, of the Prince of Wales's Loyal Middlesex Volunteers in 1803-08 and a member of the London and Westminster Light Horse in 1803-07.  He was also a director of the Globe Insurance Co. and a junior partner in the bank of Hodsoll and Michel (later Hodsoll and Sterling) in the Strand.  He sat in Parliament for Gatton, Surrey from 1799 to 1802 and St Ives in Cornwall from 1807 to 1820.  He was created a baronet in 1800 and appointed High Sheriff of Kent for 1804-1805.  He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and of the Royal Society in 1801.

Thomas Robins was an outstanding maker, the quality of his work comparable to Paul Storr.  His work is very much of an exceptional weight and gauge, as seen with this piece.

Length: 16 inches, 40cm.

Width: 13 inches, 32.5 cm.

Weight: 62oz.


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