Silver salver of a Hero of Trafalgar: Captain Pryce Cumby London, circa 1836

This flared silver cup has a border of repoussé scrolls and foliage on the lower bulb of the goblet and around the foot. The full inscription is written below. Partially assayed fo...

A silver cheroot case from MTB ‘Brave Borderer,’ of rectangular form, the exterior textured, the interior gilt and incised with an image of the boat above the legend ‘H.M.S. “Brave Borderer” 1858-59’ and the initials ‘N.D.F’. Fully assayed. The Brave-class fast patrol torpedo boats...

A George III shaped circular silver salver, plain within a shell and scrolling wave border and outer gadrooned edge, engraved with the royal coat of arms, crest and motto (period 1714-1800) of King George III and, on the reverse with a presentation inscription: For the Launching of His Majestys sloop ‘Otter’ 14 Gunns 305 Tonns 26 October 1767 & His Majestys ship ‘Egmont’ 74 Gunns 1643 Tonns 29 August 1768 by Mr Adam Hayes Master Shipwright of his Majestys yard at Deptford; further monogrammed A*H P A*M. Hallmarked for Benjamin Cartwright, London, 1769 Adam Hayes (1710-1785) began his career as ship’s carpenter in Centurion during Commodore Anson’s famous voyage around the world...

The large and interesting silver gilt trophy of Captain George Welstead, purchased with prize money from the East India Company, 1805, in the form of a footed cup with a separate cover, with two arched scrolling acanthus handles, incised and chased with a band of scrolling vines and a continuous thick garland of flowers suspended by two tied bows around two cartouches, one with a later applied panel showing the coat of arms of the East India Company (a shield surmounted by a helmet, flanked by lion supporters each holding a British standard, motto ‘Auspicio Regis et Senatus Angliæ’), the other with six putti driving a cart pulled by a pair of lionesses, the cover with a collar of pointed leaves and the Welstead family crest (a hind trippant), the foot with an inscription stating ‘A remembrance of the East India Company’s Present, to Captn G. Welstead, of four hundred guineas. June 11, 1805′. Assay marks for WH, London, 1795. English. Condition: repairs to old damage on the stem. Provenance: The collection of Carl De Santis, sold at Christie’s, 17th March 1999, lot 91 Sold subsequently at Sotheby’s 4th November 2011, lot 253 This is a fascinating documentary item. It is not, in itself, a presentation piece of plate. The wording makes it clear that Welstead was presented with money so he must have chosen to buy this piece with some of his prize to remember his success in the future. This also explains why the vase, probably bought second hand, predates the inscription by 10 years and has a later panel with the East India Coat of Arms applied to one side. Unfortunately, the precise reason for the award of 400 Guineas to Welstead in 1805 is not recorded. At this point he was captain of the East Indiaman Euphrates and it is recorded in Shipbuilding & Shipping Record: A Journal of Shipbuilding, Marine Engineering, Dock, Harbours & Shipping, Vol. 68, pp. 134 & 162, that Lloyds of London presented him with a “silver tureen” for successfully refloating the vessel when she had run aground in the Hooghli river. It is quite likely the HEIC rewarded him for this same event. Welstead received several gifts of silver during the course of his incredibly successful career, including having a bespoke presentation centrepiece commissioned for him through a subscription by the grateful officers on his ship circa 1825. A superb design drawing for an extraordinary chinoiserie silver centrepiece, made by the firm of Green, Ward & Co-rivals to Rundell Bridge and Rundell...