MAKER'S MARK ONLY, IP, CIRCA 1765

细节

A pair of George III silver-gilt mounted ostrich-eggs
Maker's mark only, IP, circa 1765
Each egg mounted on rising domed circular foot with gadrooned border, the foot chased with grapevines and two rococo cartouches, the stem chased with grapevines, a rocaille border above, with three hinged straps cast with scrolling grapevines and tendrils, with plain rim and scalloped border below, the detachable cover similarly mounted and with detachable cast ostrich finial, the foot engraved with a coat-of-arms and a crest, marked on base and cover with maker's mark only
13¾in. (34.5cm.) high
The arms are those of Downes quartering Shrigley impaling Craven, for Peter Downes (1724-1791) of Cheshire and his second wife, Elizabeth Anne Craven (1744-1781) of London, whom he married in 1766 (2)

注意事项

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

拍品专文

Peter Downes was the second son of Edward Downes (d.1748) of Shrigley and Worth in Cheshire and his wife Bridget, daughter of the Rev. Philip Egerton. Upon the death of his elder brother, John Downes (1723-1764), Peter Downes succeeded to the property in Cheshire. He married firstly Lucy, widow of Capt. David Clayton, at Calcutta on 2 September 1760; she died, and was buried there on 22 November 1765. Within a year he had returned to England and on 13 November 1766 at St. Christopher Le Stocks, London, married his second wife Elizabeth, who had been baptised at the same church on 5 April 1744. It is probable that he purchased the eggs on his journey home from India prior to his second marriage in 1766 and had them mounted to commemorate the event. Peter Downes died in Cheshire in 1791.