An interesting George II Irish sterling silver salver, Dublin circa 1755 by James Warren (active 1754-89), later retailed in Cork by John Whelpley (active c.1781-c.1824)

Of shaped circular form with shaped cavetto edge, with shell, scroll and rosette rim interspaced with female masks, raised on three scroll and fluted pad feet. The otherwise plain field engraved to the centre with a crest of a castle. Engraved with scratch weight underneath 20:0:½ and a fainter scratch weight 12:18:6. Marked to the reverse, date letter absent, the mark WHELPLEY to rim edge.

Diameter – 23 cm / 9 inches

Weight – 577 grams / 18.55 ozt

James Warren, apprenticed to Andrew Goodwin 1742 and free 1752 and elected master 1777-8.

This form of rim has been seen on other Irish salvers including one of 1737 by William Williamson (Bonham’s New Bond Street, 23 July 2004, lot 120) and one of 1745 by Thomas Walker (Christie’s, 4 June 2013, lot 356) as well as one of 1749 by Bartholomew Mosse (Christie’s, 30 May 2012, Lot 343).

The presence of John Whelpley’s mark to the underside of the rim edge not only shows us that he is acting as the retailer of an older item of plate but it is a useful reference point for this unusual marking position. It appears this marking practice was adopted when retailing a finished salver or waiter that needed to be additionally marked (without harming the field).

This position has been noted on an Irish coffee pot stand marked to the reverse for William Townsend (fl.1726-75) and thrice to the rim for Michael Walsh (fl. 1758-61) as well as on a large salver (42 cm) marked to the rim for Carden Terry of Cork. Given that Townsend was a prolific maker of waiters and salvers and Walsh was not, it suggests that this practice was adopted for recently bought in plate as well for the retail of older wares.