Earl of Kingston - A set of six George III sterling silver dinner plates, London 1776 by John Wakelin & William Taylor (reg. 25th Sep 1776)

Of shaped circular form with gadrooned rim, the edge engraved with a coat of arms with supporters on either side a lion per fess, ducally crowned, with moto below SPES TUTISSIMA CŒLIS, all surmounted by an Earl’s coronet. Each engraved to the reverse with contemporary numerals and scratches weights as well as a later numeral and initials W.R; No -19 17:10 and 112 W.R, No – 28 17:2 and 126 W.R, No – 38 17:5 and 116 W.R, No 41 16:16 and 76 W.R, No 52 18:1 and 131 W.R and No 66 17:5 and 115 W.R. All fully marked to reverse. (6)

Diameter – 25.1 cm / 9.9 inches

Weight – 3157 grams / 101.5 ozt

The arms are for King, as borne by the Earl’s of Kingston, County of Sligo, Ireland (est. 1768) of Mitchelstown Castle, Cork (destroyed 1922). In 1871 the family became King-Tenison and thus the arms changed.

A plate of 1760 marked for Edward Wakelin with the same arms and numbered 47 and 18:16 was sold Christie’s South Kensington, 18 July 2006, Lot 1680 (£240 incl. premium)

Andrew Milne Collection