The Collection of the Earl of Lonsdale at Lowther Castle. An important pair of George III Salt Cellars made in London in 1803 by Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith.
The Collection of the Earl of Lonsdale at Lowther Castle. An important pair of George III Salt Cellars made in London in 1803 by Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith.
375617
These magnificent vessels are cast and stand on a circular stand with three bracket feet chased with an anthemion against a matted ground. The cellar, above, is bolted in place, and is circular in form with a gilded interior and an everted rim chased with linear palm motifs, identical to the outer border of the stand. The large slightly baluster main body is decorated with unusual linear curtains interspersed with very detailed lion mask mouldings and lion paw feet, the surface textured to simulate the fur of the lion. The legs each display a shield of crossed oak branches and acorns. The top of the domed platform is engraved with a Crest, with the Coronet of an Earl above and the Crest surrounded by a garter engraved with the Motto of the Order of the Garter. The cellars are fully marked on the underside and on the side of the cellar. All are in excellent condition and are of an exceptionally heavy weight. Both are also stamped under the base "RUNDELL BRIDGE & RUNDELL AURIFICES REGIS ET PRINCIPI WALLAE LONDINI FECERUNT".
The crest is that of William, Viscount and Baron Lowther (1757-1844), created 1st Earl of Lonsdale in 1807. He married Augusta, eldest daughter of John, 9th Earl of Westmorland, in 1781. The Earl was a significant patron of the arts and commissioned the rebuilding of Lowther Castle. He was one of the great patrons of plate in the Regency era, including owning one of the Shields of Achilles (now at Anglesey Abbey, National Trust).
This pair of salt cellars was originally part of a group of twelve, hallmarked for 1803, 1804, 1808 and 1810, which was dispersed in the Lonsdale sale in 1947. They can be compared to a group of 36 salt cellars in the Royal Collection, designed in an even more pronounced Egyptian taste with sphinx heads (RCIN 50821). These, part of the 'Grand Service', were produced by Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith, and Philip Rundell, between 1802-19 (see Carlton House: The Past Glories of George IV's Palace, 1991, p. 131, no. 92). Another set, with lion head and shield supports by Benjamin and James Smith of 1810, sold at Christie's, London, October 23, 1991, lot 47.
Four identical silver gilt Salt Cellars were part of the fabulous Collection of Regency Silver belonging to Alan & Simone Hartman, which was sold by Christie's in New York in October, 1999. They formed lot 188 and were sold by Mary Cooke Antiques in December 2025. They are shown in our achive.
Height: 3.75 inches, 9.38 cm.
Diameter at the rim: 4.2 inches, 10.5 cm.
Weight: 35oz, the pair.
PROVENANCE:
William, 1st Earl of Lonsdale (1757-1844), by descent to
Lancelot, 6th Earl of Lonsdale O.B.E. (1867-1953), sold
Christie's, London, February 19-20, 1947,
Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith were in partnership from 1802-1807 and produced some of the finest silver of the period. They supplied the Royal Household and the Royal Retailers Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, in addition to many of the noble, and aristocratic households, of the country.
RELATED ITEMS
![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1760-1830/the-collection-of-the-earl-of-lonsdale-at-lowther-castle-an-important-pair-of-george-iii-salt-cellars-made-in-london-in-1803-by-digby-scott-benjamin-smith&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/69bd39d81e288_image_url_zk16.jpg&description=These magnificent vessels are cast and stand on a circular stand with three bracket feet chased with an anthemion against a matted ground. The cellar, above, is bolted in place, and is circular in form with a gilded interior and an everted rim chased with linear palm motifs, identical to the outer border of the stand. The large slightly baluster main body is decorated with unusual linear curtains interspersed with very detailed lion mask mouldings and lion paw feet, the surface textured to simulate the fur of the lion. The legs each display a shield of crossed oak branches and acorns. The top of the domed platform is engraved with a Crest, with the Coronet of an Earl above and the Crest surrounded by a garter engraved with the Motto of the Order of the Garter. The cellars are fully marked on the underside and on the side of the cellar. All are in excellent condition and are of an exceptionally heavy weight. Both are also stamped under the base "RUNDELL BRIDGE & RUNDELL AURIFICES REGIS ET PRINCIPI WALLAE LONDINI FECERUNT". The crest is that of William, Viscount and Baron Lowther (1757-1844), created 1st Earl of Lonsdale in 1807. He married Augusta, eldest daughter of John, 9th Earl of Westmorland, in 1781. The Earl was a significant patron of the arts and commissioned the rebuilding of Lowther Castle. He was one of the great patrons of plate in the Regency era, including owning one of the Shields of Achilles (now at Anglesey Abbey, National Trust). This pair of salt cellars was originally part of a group of twelve, hallmarked for 1803, 1804, 1808 and 1810, which was dispersed in the Lonsdale sale in 1947. They can be compared to a group of 36 salt cellars in the Royal Collection, designed in an even more pronounced Egyptian taste with sphinx heads (RCIN 50821). These, part of the 'Grand Service', were produced by Digby Scott and Benjamin Smith, and Philip Rundell, between 1802-19 (see Carlton House: The Past Glories of George IV's Palace, 1991, p. 131, no. 92). Another set, with lion head and shield supports by Benjamin and James Smith of 1810, sold at Christie's, London, October 23, 1991, lot 47.Four identical silver gilt Salt Cellars were part of the fabulous Collection of Regency Silver belonging to Alan & Simone Hartman, which was sold by Christie's in New York in October, 1999. They formed lot 188 and were sold by Mary Cooke Antiques in December 2025. They are shown in our achive.Height: 3.75 inches, 9.38 cm.Diameter at the rim: 4.2 inches, 10.5 cm.Weight: 35oz, the pair.PROVENANCE:William, 1st Earl of Lonsdale (1757-1844), by descent to Lancelot, 6th Earl of Lonsdale O.B.E. (1867-1953), sold Christie's, London, February 19-20, 1947, Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith were in partnership from 1802-1807 and produced some of the finest silver of the period. They supplied the Royal Household and the Royal Retailers Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, in addition to many of the noble, and aristocratic households, of the country. ){kind=link}