A mixed group of 18th and 19th century French and English silver flatware

Comprising six silver gilt fruit knives with filled double threaded handles, four marked for London 1847 by Robert Garrard the blades with makers mark of Francis Higgins, the other two with marks for Paris 1752 by Claude Ballin II (1661 – 1754, reg. 26^th Aug 1688). Together with three dessert forks and a sauce ladle in an Unknown pattern in King’s shape, the forks Paris 1751 by Claude Ballin II and the ladle London 1847 by George Adams. All engraved with a cypher of interlocked C’s and a H below an Earl’s coronet or a cypher of interlocked C’s below an Earl’s coronet. All fully marked. (10)

Knife length – 20.5 cm / 8 inches

Weighable weight – 269 grams / 8.65 ozt

The initials and coronet are attributed to Henry Hyde, 4th Earl of Clarendon and 2nd Earl of Rochester (1672-1753). Although these titles became extinct in 1753, the Baroncy of Hyde and Earldom of Clarendon was revived in 1756/76 respectively for Thomas Villiers married to Charlotte Capel, granddaughter of Henry Hyde. The 1847 extension of this service likely being commissioned by the Hyde-Villiers family as Earl’s of Clarendon (second creation) where the original mid-18th century French service descended through the female line.

Thence by descent.