AN IMPORTANT SET OF EIGHT GEORGE III SILVER-GILT WINE COASTERS**

MAKER'S MARK OF BENJAMIN SMITH II, LONDON, 1807

Details
AN IMPORTANT SET OF EIGHT GEORGE III SILVER-GILT WINE COASTERS**
Maker's mark of Benjamin Smith II, London, 1807
Circular, the sides with openwork grapevine with matted grape leaves, the rim gadrooned, the centers engraved with a crest, with wood base and four on ivory casters, marked on bases, also stamped RUNDELL BRIDGE ET RUNDELL AURIFICES REGIS ET PRINCIPIS WALLAE LONDINI FECERUNT
5 3/8in. (13.7cm.) diameter; gross weight 199oz. (6201gr.) (8)

Lot Essay

The crest is that of Baker, Blackwell, Mellish or Pomfrett.

This design was first retailed by Rundell, Bridge and Rundell around 1805 and enjoyed great popularity for about ten years. A number of variants to the basic formula are known. A set of 1804 in the Al Tajir collection, for example, lacks the bands of egg-and-dart around the borders, while a design incorporating bacchanalian putti was in production from around 1810.