An interesting George III sterling silver waiter, London 1782 by John Scofield (reg. 13th Jan 1778)

Of shaped circular form with shaped cavetto edge and shell and scroll rim, all raised on three pad feet. The field with an engraved crest of a cubit arm vested holding a scimitar, reserved with flat chased decoration of flower heads, foliate scrolls, and rocaille. Fully marked to the reverse.

Diameter – 21 cm / 8.25 inches

Weight – 494 grams / 15.88 ozt

John Scofield ran an illustrious workshop producing high quality wares in the restrained but refined Neoclassical style. He first registered a mark on the 10th February 1776 in partnership with Robert Jones, this had disbanded by early 1778 when both Scofield and Jones registered marks within a day of each other. This waiter which is in a style most favoured in the 1750’s and 60’s was probably made to replace a period example as this piece is not typical of the output of Scofield’s workshop nor of the 1780’s, it is likely to have been supplied by Robert Jones or his widow Elizabeth Jones who registered her mark on January 15th 1783, both of whom were specialists in salver production.