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Lot Essay
The arms are those of Gorges, for Henry Gorges of Eye and the Mynde (b.c. 1665-1717)
Henry Gorges of Eye and the Mynde was MP for Herefordshire in 1698 and later for Weobley and Leominster. His first marriage was to Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Robert Pye of the Mynde, and his second wife was Dorothy. He was a wealthy man, the family fortune coming from the mercantile activities of his father, Ferdinando Gorges. Henry Gorges commissioned a service of exceptionally fine silver by David Willaume and Pierre Platel, two of the best Huguenot silversmiths in London.
In his will, dated 12 March 1717, he declared "To my wife Dorothy...All my plate linnen household goods and furniture and utensils...in my house in Devonshire Street, St. Andrews Holborne and also such pieces of plate att my house att Eye...as she shall choose not exceeding £100. To my daughter Meliora £4000 and £80 a year...my pearl necklace and one of my best silver cupps and covers with such salver as she choose for it to stand on...To my youngest daughter Mary £3000 and £60 a year and my diamond ring with her mother's hair and a silver cup and cover the fellow to that herein before given to her sister Meliora with such salver to sett the same on as after her sisters choices as aforesaid she shall choose...the remaining plate to my eldest son Robert barring the large tankard to my executor for his trouble."
These cups are recorded in the 5th Earl of Rosebery's inventory at Mentmore in 1879, p.113, as "2 antique strap pattern 2 handle Cups & Covers."
Henry Gorges of Eye and the Mynde was MP for Herefordshire in 1698 and later for Weobley and Leominster. His first marriage was to Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Robert Pye of the Mynde, and his second wife was Dorothy. He was a wealthy man, the family fortune coming from the mercantile activities of his father, Ferdinando Gorges. Henry Gorges commissioned a service of exceptionally fine silver by David Willaume and Pierre Platel, two of the best Huguenot silversmiths in London.
In his will, dated 12 March 1717, he declared "To my wife Dorothy...All my plate linnen household goods and furniture and utensils...in my house in Devonshire Street, St. Andrews Holborne and also such pieces of plate att my house att Eye...as she shall choose not exceeding £100. To my daughter Meliora £4000 and £80 a year...my pearl necklace and one of my best silver cupps and covers with such salver as she choose for it to stand on...To my youngest daughter Mary £3000 and £60 a year and my diamond ring with her mother's hair and a silver cup and cover the fellow to that herein before given to her sister Meliora with such salver to sett the same on as after her sisters choices as aforesaid she shall choose...the remaining plate to my eldest son Robert barring the large tankard to my executor for his trouble."
These cups are recorded in the 5th Earl of Rosebery's inventory at Mentmore in 1879, p.113, as "2 antique strap pattern 2 handle Cups & Covers."