Maritime and Hull interest - A Victorian sterling silver soup tureen, London 1837 by Benjamin Smith III

Of shaped oval lobed form upon four scroll feet, twin foliate scroll handles leading to a C scroll rim. The pull off domed lobed lid surmounted by a detachable cast heraldic finial of a gauntlet erect, garnished at the wrist, holding a sword. Each side of lid engraved with a ship, one a paddle steamer, the other a clipper, representing ‘steam’ and ‘sail’. The body engraved to one side with the same crest held within a wreath of oak leaves fructed and a palm branch, the opposite side with a presentation inscription reading “Presented to Joseph Gee Esq^r by the tradesmen, workmen, and others employed by him at Kingston-upon-Hull. As a tribute of their respect, and gratitude and a testimony to his commercial and enterprising spirit which afforded employment to a great body of the working classes during several seasons of general depression in trade, December 1844”. The lid stamped with a numeral 1. The finial marked for William Cooper. Fully marked underneath, part-marked to the lid and finial, also stamped underneath B.SMITH, DUKE ST, LIN^N INN FIELDS.

Length – 45.5 cm / 17.85 inches

Weight – 4888 grams / 157.15 ozt

Joseph Gee (1802–1860) was the son of Stephen Gee (1769-1840) and Mary Moore (1775-1855), he married on the 22 Feb 1844 Elizabeth Jane Mahwood (1812-1886).

He was Hull's dominant ship owner, he joined his father’s shipping company in High St, originally called Gee & Co, then becoming Gee, Loft & Co, before finally named Blayde's, Loft, Gee & Co.

After his father’s death in 1840 he moved into his father’s home at Cottingham House.

Joseph was Sheriff of Hull in 1854. He was Vice Commodore of the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club, elected in 1849 to the Royal Yacht Squadron. Between 1850 and 1857 he had a series of cutter (racing) yachts. The first was the renowned 'Corsair', built in 1825 and a famous racer. Many of these ships were painted by marine artists such as John Ward of Hull (1798-1849). He also founded the Hull Mariners' Church and Sailor's Orphanage Society (later the Hull Seaman's and General Orphan Society).