MARK OF JAMES SHRUDER, LONDON, 1739

Details

A RARE GEORGE II SILVER MECHANICAL DISH CROSS
MARK OF JAMES SHRUDER, LONDON, 1739
The large central baluster-form lamp with removable cover with three wick holders raised on three adjustable leaf-clad scroll supports with shell terminals, moving on a central ratchet, also with locking mechanism with baluster handle engraved "L", the cover and lamp engraved with a crest, the three sliding bars each with a backing of brass pins, marked under base, cover, and on each shell dish support, also engraved with inventory number 2 and scratchweight 54 17
14 in. (37 cm.) greatest length fully extended, 6 in. (16 cm.) high; 54 oz. 10 dwt., as indicated by scratchweight

Provenance

The Hahn Collection, sold Christie's, New York, 23 October 2000, lot 244

Literature

Michael Clayton, The Collector's Dictionary of the Gold and Silver of Great Britain and North America, 2nd ed., 1985, illus. pl. 242, p. 157

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Lot Essay

The crest is probably that of Bugge.

This massive and extremely rare dish cross is far more unusual than the typical X-form dish cross with central spirit burner used to keep food warm at the Georgian table or sideboard. Schruder's ingenious design features three bar supports fitted with pins that engage with a geared column within the heater base, so that as one leg extends or retracts, the others shift simultaneously.

The only other known examples of this extremely rare form of dish cross include one with alternating wick burners by Paul Crespin (1738) in the Egremont Collection at Petworth House, Sussex, and another by John Swift (1754) sold from the collection of Mrs. C. J. Devine, Christie's, New York, 15 October 1985, lot 1199.

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