A George III sterling silver stilton scoop, London 1799 by Joseph Taconet (reg. Feb 1799)

With a filled threaded handle, engraved with dual crests of talbot sejant and a unicorn passant. Together with another stilton scoop, with a late 19^th century Ivory handle, London 1819 by William Knight II. (2)

Length (1799) – 26.4 cm / 10.4 inches

£100-150

The crests are for Portman

Probably either for Henry Berkeley Portman (d.1803) or Edward Berkeley Portman (1771-1823) sons of Henry William Portman (1737-1796) of Orchard Portman, Somerset, who married Anne Wyndham (b. circa 1746) daughter of William Wyndham, of Dinton in the County of Wiltshire, on 20th January 1766. He developed 200 acres (0.81 km2) of meadow in London between Oxford Street and the present site of Regent's Canal that he had inherited from his Tudor ancestor Sir William Portman, becoming the Portman Estate. The first building leases were issued in 1755, and building began in 1764 with Portman Square, which was to owe its popularity to buildings by Robert Adam and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart.

The Viscounts Portman, as created for the Henry William Portman's grandson Edward Berkeley Portman (1799-1888) in 1873.

A soup tureen bearing these crests and the marital arms of Henry William Portman, of 1789 by John Scofield was sold these rooms, 23 Oct 2018, Lot 362 (£4000, incl. premium)

A pair of waiters of 1789 by Elizabeth Jones bearing these arms, sold Bonhams Knightsbridge 6th Oct 2010, Lot 609

A pair of candlesticks of 1764 by Parker & Wakelin bearing these arms, sold Christie's London 29th Nov 2011, Lot 386

A salver and waiter of 1766 by Hannam and Crouch, bearing these arms, offered at Woolley & Wallis, 21st Jan 2014, lot 1034