A William IV Silver Soup Tureen and Cover, Paul Storr, London, 1835

the tureen of elongated octagonal form with bombe sides and applied beaded rim, engraved on both sides with contemporary arms under foliate mantles, the loop handles with scroll and beaded shellwork and springing from cartouches of beaded foliage and shells, raised on four scroll supports headed by conforming foliage, the domed cover engraved with matching crests on both sides and with beaded ring finial

Sotheby's, Belgravia, 25 May 1972, lot 172

The arms are those of Wildman impaling Preisig for Col. Thomas Wildman (1787-1859), and his wife Louisa Preisig, natural daughter of HRH Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex and Mrs. Elizabeth Preisig of Appensal, Switzerland, whom he married in 1816.

some salt stains throughout, good condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Col. Thomas Wildman (1787-1859) was present at the Battle of Waterloo as an extra aide-de-camp to Lord Uxbridge (later 1st Marquess of Anglesey) whose remark on that occasion to the Duke of Wellington, upon being wounded by cannon shot, 'By God, sir, I've lost my leg!' is supposed to have elicited the reply, 'By God, sir, so you have!'

The Wildman family derived much of its wealth from interests in Jamaica, particularly from the Quebec Estate, one of the largest West Indian sugar plantations, which supported some 800 slaves. They had acquired this lucrative holding in the early 1790s in a possibly fraudulent transaction from the family of William Beckford (1760-1844).   In 1817 Thomas Wildman purchased for £94,000 from his old school friend, the poet Lord Byron, with whom he had attended Eton College, the historic estate and mansion of Newstead Abbey, co. Nottingham. Over the next few years he spent another £100,000 restoring and redecorating Newstead, including the purchase of antique arms and armour, tapestries and furniture.

In 1816 Wildman married Louisa Preisig, who is said to have been the natural daughter of HRH Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (1773-1843) and Mrs Elizabeth Preisig of Appensal, Switzerland. When he died without issue in 1859, Mrs Wildman sold Newstead to William Frederick Webb (1829-1899), a wealthy landowner.

A pair of matching sauce tureens, also Paul Storr, 1835, engraved with identical arms, were offered at Sotheby's, London, 18 November 2008, lot 446.