A George III sterling silver tankard, London 1783 by Thomas and Richard Payne (reg. 30^th Oct 1777)

Of baluster form upon a spreading circular foot. The C scroll handle with a shaped shield terminal with a gadrooned edge, leading to a hinged domed lid with incised concentric lines raised by an openwork scroll thumbpiece. The front engraved with a contemporaneous coat of arms within crossed floral swags, surmounted by a crest of a falcon close on a rock with the motto below Virtus Post Funera Vivit. Fully marked underneath and to the interior of lid.

Height – 21.4 cm / 8.5 inchds

Weight – 941 grams / 30.25 ozt

The arms, crest and motto are for Barker of Albrighton Hall, Shrewsbury, also described as Barker of Wollerton, Shropshire

Probably for Thomas Barker (1762-1823) the son of Thomas Barker (1731-1820) of Cuddington, Tilston, Cheshire and his wife Catherine Rowland, who was baptised at Malpas 10^th January 1763. Recorded as farmer at Erbistock Hall, Denbighshire and later at Horton Hall, Tilston. He married on the 14^th February 1794 at Erbistock, Elizabeth Barnett (1766-1833), daughter and heiress of Richard Barnett of Elson, Ellesmere (Shropshire, they had issue: Thomas Barker (1794-1862), farmer at Horton Hall, Tilston; died without issue, as well as John Barker (1795-1852). He inherited Horton Hall Farm from his father in 1820 and rented Erbistock Hall Denbighshire. His widow was buried at Tilston, 1 February 1833.

Richard Morse Payne free. 9^th April 1777 registered with his brother Thomas Payne, both sons of John Payne (reg. 13^th April 1751) of Cheapside, who was himself free by patrimony to his father Humphrey Payne (1679/80-1751) who registered a mark 3^rd Dec 1701, a consistent holloware maker apprenticed to Thomas Parr from being turned over from Roger Grange. Coincidentally, Humphrey Payne died the same day as Paul De Lamerie, with obituary appearing alongside De Lamerie’s claiming he “having acquired a handsome fortune but quitted trade to his son a few Months ago”. The fraternal Payne partnership was registered at 42 Cheapside but described bankrupt November 1780, Thomas dies 25^th November 1815.

A rarely encountered partnership, a twin handled cup of 1783 was sold Bonham’s Knightsbridge, 17 April 2007, lot 264, indicating that for a short period of time their commercial enterprises resumed after being declared bankrupt.