A George III sterling silver coffee pot or biggin, London 1797 by John Wakelin and Robert Garrard (reg. 20th Oct 1792)

Of cylindrical form with domed top with reeded rim, the detachable lid with cavetto edge and gently domed centre surmounted by a knop finial, the plain spout with drill pierced filter opposite a later fibre handle. Engraved to each side, one with quartered and impaled coats of arms, reserved within a Greek key and rosette scroll cartouche, the other side with a crest of a walnut tree, pendent an escutcheon, charged with three fleurs-de-lis, with motto below Ilac Fructus Virtutis. Fully marked underneath and part-marked to lid, also with scratch weight 18:10.

Height – 20 cm / 7.9 inches

Weight – 564 grams / 18.13 ozt

The crest (a variant) and motto are for Waller

The arms are for Waller quartering another impaling another quartering Howe

Seemingly for Sir Jonathan Wathen Waller, 1st Baronet, GCH (1769-1853) and his second wife Sophia-Charlotte Howe (1762-1835), the Baroness of Langar, who were married on 1st October 1812. Sir Jonathan is the son of Joshua Phipps and Mary Allen, he was given the name of Jonathan Wathen Phipps at birth. He was eye surgeon to George III. He was Groom of the Bedchamber to King William IV. In 1814 his name was legally changed to Jonathan Wathen Phipps by Sign Manual. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross, Hanoverian Order (G.C.H.) He was created 1st Baronet Waller, of Braywick Lodge, Berkshire on 30th May 1816. Sophia was the was the daughter of Admiral Richard Howe (1725-1799), 1st and last Earl Howe and Mary Hartopp (d.1800). This was her second marriage she succeeded as the 2nd Baroness Howe of Langar, co. Nottingham (est.1788) on 5th August 1799. They resided in Twickenham.

Andrew Milne Collection