ROYAL. A very fine pair of serving dishes made in London in 1780 by the Royal Silversmith Thomas Heming.

ROYAL. A very fine pair of serving dishes made in London in 1780 by the Royal Silversmith Thomas Heming.

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374579

The Dishes are of shaped oval form, with a raised rim decorated with gadrooning.  Each border is engraved with the Royal Arms surrounded by a Garter engraved with the Motto of the Order of the Garter - "Honi Soit Qui May Y Pense".  This is all surmounted by the Crown of the Sovereign and flanked by GR for George Rex.  The engraving is as used by King George III who reigned as King of Great Britain 1760-1820.  A painting of the Royal family, with the Queen Consort, Queen Charlotte, is also shown.  The dishes are in excellent condition with a fine colour and are engraved with their original scratch weight and their numbers within what must have been a vast dinner service.

These are also very desirable as they were made by Thomas Heming, the Royal silversmith.  Heming was principal Goldsmith to the King in 1760, an appointment which he held until 1782.  Some of his earliest pieces in the Royal Collection show a French delicacy of taste, and refinement of execution, which was unquestionably inherited from his Master, Peter Archambo.  His masterpiece is most probably the Speaker's Wine Cistern, 1770, at Belton House, Lincolnshire.  He was working from large premises in New Bond Street, London, when these dishes were made.  Heming's mark is surmounted by a crown, denoting his Royal status.

Length: 12.5 inches, 31.25 cm.

Width: 9 inches, 22.5 cm.

Weight: 38.5 oz, the pair.

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