Lot Essay
The present plates are modeled after a set made for Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773) by David Willaume in 1726⁄27 to augment the magnificent ambassadorial plate issued to him in that year, and greatly added to by Robert Garrard in 1826 for the 21st birthday celebrations of George, 6th Earl of Chesterfield (1805-1866). A set of eight of the Garrard plates were sold Christie's, New York, 27 October 2015, lot 78.