Cowper Service - A George III sterling silver dinner plate, London 1797 by Paul Storr (1771 - 1844, reg. 12th Jan 1793)

Cowper Service - A George III sterling silver dinner plate, London 1797 by Paul Storr (1771 - 1844, reg. 12th Jan 1793)

Of circular form with gadrooned edge, engraved with a quartered coat of arms surmounted by an Earl's coronet, with supporters either side and motto Tuum Est, also later engraved with a crest of a lion gamb erect and erased holding a cherrybranch fructed, all encircled in the same motto. Fully marked to reverse.

Diameter - 25.5 cm / 10 inches

Weight - 541 grams / 17.39 ozt

The crest is for Cowper

The arms are for Cowper quartering others

For George Augustus, 4th Earl Cowper (1776-1799), born 6th Aug 1776 in Florence inheriting the earldom and the title Prince of the Holy Roman Empire at the age of 13, but died unmarried at the age of 22 in February 1799 when he was succeeded by his brother Peter.

Provenance almost certainly:

George, 4th Earl Cowper (1776-1799)

then to Peter, 5th Earl Cowper (1778-1837) then to - Francis, 7th Earl Cowper (1834-1905)

then to then his widow Katrine, Countess Cowper (d.1913)

then to Lady Ethel Desborough (1867-1952), (granddaughter of George, 6th Earl Cowper (1806-1856))

Most likely sold Lord Desborough K.G. and Lady Desborough, Panshanger, Hertford; Christie's London, March 18, 1942

Unknown until sold Bonhams, Chester 7th December 2005, lot 286 (£775 incl. premium) probably the same plate.

Private collection

A set of eighteen dinner plates from the same service sold Christie's, New York, 27th October 2005, lot 408, ($50,400 incl. premium) (also Christie's, London, 18 March 1942, part lot 94)

A 20 inch meat dish from the same service sold Bonhams, Knightsbridge, 22nd April 2015 Lot 257 (£2750 incl. premium)

A pair of 23 inch meat plates from the same service sold Christie's, Paris 8 - 9 June 2016, lot 312 (€8125 incl. premium)