A George III Irish provincial silver sugar bowl, Cork circa 1780 by John Nicholson (active 1756-1824)

A George III Irish provincial silver sugar bowl, Cork circa 1780 by John and Samuel Nicholson (active 1775-97)

Of rounded circular form with a scalloped and embossed rim, all raised upon three rocaille shell footed legs with mask and shell junctions. The body with embossed decoration of C scrolls and foliage, a swan on the water, an eagle rising from a burning pyre, the underside with spiral fluting. The side with a shield shaped cartouche later engraved with an inscription reading “Married at S.S Mary & Anne’s Church Shandon, Cork, John Donegan & Ellen Moriarty February 3^rd 1773. The underside with contemporaneous initials E . D in Roman script, with a later inscription reading “The workmanship of John Nicholson an eminent Cork silversmith about 1750. Marked underneath with traces of STERLING and JSN script.

Diameter – 12.7 cm / 5 inches

Weight – 209 grams / 6.72 ozt