An exceptional and large George III antique sterling silver salver, London 1787 by Elizabeth Jones Of square form with re-entrant corners and a reeded edge, raised upon four curved reeded bracket feet. The field with engraved decoration of four cartouches depicting male and female masks as allegories of the seasons reserved in stylised foliate scrolls and shells interspaced with floral spray cartouches similarly reserved connected by rusticated strapwork with foliate motifs. The centre engraved with a crest of on a chapeau gules turned up argent a greyhound sejant erm. Fully marked to the reverse and with scratch weight 19-18. Length – 49 cm / 19.25 inches Weight – 2860 grams / 91.95 ozt The crest is that of the Hall family of London and Laventhorpe / Leventhorpe, Yorkshire  The Halls were a prominent Yorkshire family which included Henry Hall (1541-1620) who was Lord Mayor of York, the descendants are listed as connected to Leventhorpe Hall, where a Henry Hall (1698-1762) ‘through gambling and other means he lost all the family property except a part known as “Hall’s Close”. This was left to his son John Hall (1734-1807), who due to misfortunes had to part ways with it. (Jordan,W. J., Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, New York 1911, p.18-19)  Elizabeth Jones registered her mark on January 15th 1783 of Bartholomew Close, she is believed to be the widow of Robert Jones. She specialised in the production of waiters, salvers and trays. A waiter with the very rare duty drawback mark is recorded (The Arthur Holder Collection, Wooley and Wallis 25th October 2016, lot 383) showing that the business sold abroad. A tray is shown in the collection of The National Museum of Women in the Arts, see Women Silversmiths 1685 -1845 P49. While a small amount of chambersticks and candlesticks are known bearing her mark the overwhelming aspect of her oeuvre appears to be oval and circular salvers, most commonly with a plain field or relatively simple engraved decorative bands. The present lot is exceptional on a multitude of fronts given the known corpus of surviving examples. This appears to be the only known example of a square salver by Jones, dating to a time when neoclassical design had led to much simplification of forms and ornament within silverware of the 1780’s, the square salver being most commonly encountered in the 1720’s-40’s. The anachronistic elements of the design of this salver can also be seen in the engraved decoration found upon the field, this rococo type ornament would more commonly have been found earlier in the 18th century when the square form was most popular. Similar large shells interspaced with masks can be seen on a rectangular salver of 1726 by Paul de Lamerie in the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts (Page 424 & 425). The extent to which both the shape and ornament depart from Elizabeth Jones more usual production may be explained by the present example being made to complement existing silver already owned by the family, or as patrons perhaps they did not care much for fashionable Neoclassical trends.  This also represents one of the largest known pieces of silver by Jones, a 56cm long oval twin handled tray on four feet also of 1787 bearing the arms of Lund was sold Bonhams New Bond Street 22nd November 2006 Lot 172.