A George II sterling silver quart tankard, London 1750 by Richard Gurney and Thomas Cook (reg. 19th Oct 1727)

Of baluster form upon a spreading circular foot, with an applied girdle. The hinged double domed lid raised by a moulded scroll thumbpiece leading to a double C scroll handle with heart shaped terminal. The front engraved with a quartered coat of arms impaling another surmounted by a helm with mantling all above the motto Ce Que Dieu Garde Est Bien Gardé. Engraved with crests above; two lions' gambs, erased, supporting a torch in pale, fired; and a leopard's head, collared, and thereon three bezants. Fully marked underneath and to the interior of the lid, the handle with makers mark only.

Height – 19.8 cm / 7.9 inches

Weight – 964 grams / 30.99 ozt

The crests are for Selwyn and Trotman respectively

The arms are for Selwyn of Friston Sussex (granted 1611) quartering Payne impaling Trotman

For John Handcock Selwyn-Payne (1852–1928) who married Anna Trotman (1850–1893) in April 1873.

John the son of Col. John Selwyn Payne (1822-1880) he the son of Charles Payne Esq., of Shirehampton who married on the 11^th Oct 1802 Albina Selwyn (1780-1860) daughter of Rev. John Selwyn (1753-1823) and Bridget Dyer (1753-1823). John Selwyn Payne married Ellen Harriet Russell (1828-1903) daughter of John Russell (1796-1873) and Mary Downs (1796-1878), of Piercefield House, Monmouthshire. John Russell a prosperous Iron and Coat master in South Wales for the The Risca Colliery Company.

The Selwyn family are an especially ancient with this branch tracing their direct ancestry back to at least the 15^th century.

Richard Gurney was apprenticed to Richard Bayley, taken on 2nd May 1717 (free 3rd September 1724). Thomas Cook apprenticed to Richard Bayley on the 11th June 1719 (free 22nd September 1726), he initially registered on his own mark on the 7th June of 1727, but registered a partnership with Gurney some four months later giving their address as the Golden Cup, Foster Lane.