Queen Adelaide Garniture

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver plate made by Robert Garrard II; an addition to our dining silverware collection. This exceptional Victorian sterling silver plate has a plain circular shaped form with a plain circular central well. The well of this fine antique plate is plain and unembellished. The shaped border is ornamented with a fine and impressive contemporary bright cut engraved crest depicting hand holding birds' leg erased a` la quise (at the thigh) all above the motto 'Nescit vox missa reverti' - word once spoken can never be recalled. . The border is further embellished with impressive applied scrolling leaf and floral motifs to each incurve. The underside of the plate bears the retailer's mark 'Garrards, Panton Street, London'. This Victorian plate...

This extremely rare and fine garniture of George III neo classical baskets were made in London in 1778 by Philip Freeman. The Baskets all stand on a square pedestal foot which is pierced with horizontal pails and roundels, as well as being engraved with prick dot designs. The Classical vase shaped main bodies are also pierced with horizontal pails and roundels and the front of each piece displays a disc cartouche engraved with a contemporary Crest. The rim and swing handle, instead of being decorated with beading, are unusually engraved with various prick dot and bright cut bands, including stylised flower heads. Each basket is in excellent condition, has a blue glass liner and is fully marked in the foot. The baskets are of a very rare decorative design and Philip Freeman was known for producing unusual baskets and pails, although his work does not survive in great quantity. These are also unusual in that they stand on a pierced foot, echoing the designs on the main body. The smaller baskets would have been used for cream and the larger ones for sugar, however it is extremely rare to find a garniture. They are almost always found singly or in pairs, in sizes. A very rare Classical garniture of outstanding quality. Measures: Height of the sugar basket, to the rim: 5.4 inches, 13.5cm. Height of the cream basket...