A GEORGE III SILVER MEAT-DISH

MAKER'S MARK OF PAUL STORR, LONDON, 1806

Details

A GEORGE III SILVER MEAT-DISH
Maker's mark of Paul Storr, London, 1806
Shaped oval, the gadrooned border with shells, acanthus and cartouches at intervals, engraved with a Baron's armorials on each side, marked on reverse
22½in. (57cm.) long; 128oz. (3985gr.)

Provenance

This meat dish was part of the wedding silver of Thomas, 3rd Baron Foley of Kidderminster (1780-1833), who married Cecilia, daughter of the 2nd Duke of Leinster in 1806. He succeeded to the title in 1793 on the death of his father, the 2nd Baron, of whom it was said "If the worthy father of this nobleman had not obtained the honors of the peerage the son would never have been entitled to them, who by a most rapid course of debauchery, extravagance and gaming has rendered one of the noblest fortunes of the kingdom abortive and involved himself in a state of distress from the misery and disgrace of which he can never be extracted" (Royal Register, vol. V). The 2nd Baron was such an inveterate gambler that his father disinherited him and left the estate to his son, the 3rd Baron.

The 3rd Baron, a Whig, was third master of the Quorn Hunt from 1805 to 1807, but his master ship was not a distinguished one and, as Colin Ellis remarks in, Leicestershire and the Quorn Hunt, he soon "decided to get rid of his money in quicker and easier ways."

Lot Essay

This meat dish was part of the wedding silver of Thomas, 3rd Baron Foley of Kidderminster (1780-1833), who married Cecilia, daughter of the 2nd Duke of Leinster in 1806. He succeeded to the title in 1793 on the death of his father, the 2nd Baron, of whom it was said "If the worthy father of this nobleman had not obtained the honors of the peerage the son would never have been entitled to them, who by a most rapid course of debauchery, extravagance and gaming has rendered one of the noblest fortunes of the kingdom abortive and involved himself in a state of distress from the misery and disgrace of which he can never be extracted" (Royal Register, vol. V). The 2nd Baron was such an inveterate gambler that his father disinherited him and left the estate to his son, the 3rd Baron.

The 3rd Baron, a Whig, was third master of the Quorn Hunt from 1805 to 1807, but his mastership was not a distinguished one and, as Colin Ellis remarks in, Leicestershire and the Quorn Hunt, he soon "decided to get rid of his money in quicker and easier ways."