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THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN (LOTS 422-429)James Milnes' ancestors held extensive estates in Derbyshire in the 16th century. His family later settled in Yorkshire and made a considerable fortune in the cloth trade. He bought land near Wakefield at Thornes in 1778 and commissioned the celebrated neo-classical architect John Carr of York to construct a country seat. Milnes had little interest in business and inherited his father’s political views. He contested Shaftesbury for the Whigs in 1796 but failed to be elected. He bought the parliamentary seat of Bletchingly in 1802. As a supporter of Pitt, he was proposed to Whig stronghold, Brooks's Club, by Charles James Fox in 1803. The History of Parliament notes that William Wilberforce thought him 'good natured and well intentioned'. His obituary commented on his 'urbanity of manners and inflexible integrity in public and private life'. He died without issue and his estates passed to his sister's grandson, whose son later took the name Milnes Gaskell.The Milnes’ country seat at Thornes House was decorated in the neoclassical taste with furniture, silver and works of art by the leading makers of the day. Its architect, Carr, may have introduced Milnes to the leading makers of the day, as he had done for other clients. Notable works with Thornes provenance include a pair of George III painted satinwood dining-room pedestals with silver plate vases by Boulton and Fothergill engraved with the arms of James Milnes and his wife Mary Busk, that must date to 1778 or soon after. The vases show the influence of James Wyatt in their form and ornament, and Wyatt worked closely with Boulton's firm. They were sold Christie's, London, 10 April 1975, lot 49.
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE III SILVER ENTREE-DISHES
MARK OF JOHN WAKELIN AND ROBERT GARRARD, LONDON, 1793
Details
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE III SILVER ENTREE-DISHES
MARK OF JOHN WAKELIN AND ROBERT GARRARD, LONDON, 1793
Each shaped oval with gadrooned border, the centre engraved with a coat-of-arms, marked underneath, further engraved with a number and scratch weight 'No. 1 19"3'; 'No. 2 19"8'; 'No. 3 18"18' and 'No. 4 19"6'
12 in. (30.5 cm.) wide
75 oz. 8 dwt. (2,345 gr.)
The arms are those of Milnes quartering others with Busk in pretence, for James Milnes (1755-1805), of Thornes House, Wakefield, co. York and his wife Mary-Ann, daughter and co-heir of Hans Busk of Leeds, whom he married in 1778.
MARK OF JOHN WAKELIN AND ROBERT GARRARD, LONDON, 1793
Each shaped oval with gadrooned border, the centre engraved with a coat-of-arms, marked underneath, further engraved with a number and scratch weight 'No. 1 19"3'; 'No. 2 19"8'; 'No. 3 18"18' and 'No. 4 19"6'
12 in. (30.5 cm.) wide
75 oz. 8 dwt. (2,345 gr.)
The arms are those of Milnes quartering others with Busk in pretence, for James Milnes (1755-1805), of Thornes House, Wakefield, co. York and his wife Mary-Ann, daughter and co-heir of Hans Busk of Leeds, whom he married in 1778.
Provenance
James Milnes (1755-1805), of Thornes House, Wakefield, co. York and then by descent to his first cousin's son
Benjamin Gaskell (1781-1856), grandson of Milnes’ sister Mary (d.1780) and her husband Benjamin Gaskell, and then by descent to his son
James Milnes Gaskell (1810-1873), M.P. for Wenlock, Shropshire 1832-1868 and Lord of the Treasury 1841-1846, and then by descent.
Benjamin Gaskell (1781-1856), grandson of Milnes’ sister Mary (d.1780) and her husband Benjamin Gaskell, and then by descent to his son
James Milnes Gaskell (1810-1873), M.P. for Wenlock, Shropshire 1832-1868 and Lord of the Treasury 1841-1846, and then by descent.
Brought to you by
Giles Forster