A rare Queen Anne silver spirit flask, probably London circa 1705, maker’s mark ?Z (untraced)

A rare Queen Anne silver spirit flask, probably London circa 1705, maker’s mark ?Z (untraced)

Of ovoid form with a detachable base cup section, the screw cap of cylindrical form with domed top and surmounted screw fitted cylindrical finial/stopper, a short, moulded lip around screw cap. The main body engraved with a coat of arms with a cadency mark for a fourth son, all in an oval, reserved with foliate scrolls and leafy forms. The base cup with a crest of a lion rampant, holding between the forepaws an escutcheon charged with the arms, viz.: arg., a fesse engrailed between three cinque-foils, all within a bordure Sa., reserved the same as the coat of arms to body. The main body and cup section with engraved decoration of a border of stylised acanthus leaves and hatched ‘acorn’ forms to the junction, an alignment rosette to base and body to one side. Gilt interior to cup section. Maker’s mark only to reverse of cup section.

Length – 14.2 cm / 5.6 inches

Weight – 188 grams / 6.04 ozt

The arms are for Foley (a variant of) with a cadency mark for a fourth son

The crest is for Foley

For John Foley (1682(?) – 1710) the fourth son of Thomas Foley (1643-1700) and Elizabeth Ashe, he the son of the ironmaster Thomas Foley (1617-1677). He was the brother of Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley of Kidderminster (1673-1732) [first creation], the first son of the same parents. His brother Edward Foley (1676-1747) Richard Foley (1681-1732) as second and third sons respectively, who were both Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Droitwich from 1710-1741, the same seat held by his father who lived at Witley Court, Worcestershire. Both the second and third sons died unmarried without issue. When the second Baron died unmarried in 1766, the son of the first, the title being revived for a cousin in 1776.

Richard’s eldest brother John Foley died in 1710, this would imply that

The arms engraved on this flask show the fess at Gu and the bordure as Vert, as opposed to Sa in the recorded arms for the family.

A flask, of similar form London 1696 by Pierre Harrache, was sold Sotheby’s London, The Ballyedmond Collection, 23 May 2017, lot 239 (£4375 incl. premium)

A flask of similar form, with an unidentified mark of ID in an oval and given a date of circa 1730 was sold Christie’s 9 Dec 2011, lot 330 (£6875 incl. premium)

Another flask with similar shape screw cap but a more broadly rectangular body, marked for London 1727 by Peter Tabart was sold Christie’s 17 June 2015, lot 316 (£1875 incl. prem)

Other maker’s mark only examples include;

A rectangular form example marked for John Luff, sold Christie’s South Kensington, 30 June 2015, lot 270 (£1500 incl. prem)

A rectangular form example FE with fleur-de-lis and crown above (unidentified), sold Christie’s London, The Oakwood Collection, 10 June 2008, lot 68 (£1375 incl. prem)

A rectangular form example marked for Peter Tabart, sold Christie’s South Kensington, 15 June 2004, lot 194 (£1434 incl. prem)

A silver and glass example circa 1725 with mark of George Meale, sold Christie’s 19 Nov 2002, lot 135 (£1434 incl. prem)

The Baron’s Foley [of the second creation] commissioned the Foley service over the course of the first two decades of the 19^th century, this was dispersed: Gerald Henry, Baron Foley; Castiglione and Scott, Ruxley Lodge, Claygate, Surrey, 14-20 October 1919.