Salop and Welsh interest - A George III sterling silver twin handled cup and cover, London 1814 by Paul Storr (1771-1844, first reg. 12th Jan 1793)

Of campana form upon a spreading circular foot foot with a gadrooned rim. The body with half-fluted decoration with twin handles formed as oak tree branches leading to acorns and leaves. The upper section with a band of fruiting vine against a textured ground. The pull off centrally domed lid with a gadrooned section surmounted by a detachable handle formed as a wreath with tied ribbon. The front with an engraved presentation inscription reading “Shropshire General Agricultural Society for October 1814. To A CUP VALUE SIXTY GUINEAS the produce of a Sweepstakes of ten Guineas each Lord Bradford, Sir W. W Wynn, John Cotes Esqr. Col. Lyster, Sir Stephen Glynne & The Revd Offley Crewe, subscribers: for the best and cleanest twenty acres of Sweedish turnips". Gilt interior. Fully marked to the side, the lid and handle part-marked. The underneath stamped and lid stamped 65.

Height – 33 cm / 13 inches

Weight – 2406 grams / 77.35 ozt

Mentioned:

Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th Baronet (1772 – 1840) was a Welsh landowner and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1794 to 1840.

Sir Stephen Richard Glynne, 8th Baronet (1780 – 1815) was a Welsh landowner and was an amateur architect and an agriculturalist.

Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford (1762 – 1825) was a British peer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1784 to 1800. On the 30 November 1815, he was made Viscount Newport, in the County of Shropshire and Earl of Bradford, in the County of Shropshire.

John Cotes Esq. (1749-1821) M.P. for Shropshire from 1806 until his death as a Whig.

Rev. Offley Crewe (1751-1836) Rector of Barthomley and of Warmingham, Cheshire, resigning these livings in 1782 in favour of his brother Charles when he became Rector of Astbury, married Harriet Assheton of Y Faenol, Gwynedd, Wales.

Richard Lyster (c.1772-1819) of Rowton castle Shropshire, Salop militia col. 2 regt. 1804-8, centre regt. 1808. Sheriff, Salop 1812-13. MP for Shrewsbury 1814-19.

The combination of these six individuals, each of prominence in Wales and its neighbouring county of Shropshire, and the prominence of Paul Storr as a supplier make this a prominent agricultural trophy and establishes the importance of such prizes in the rural society of these areas.