A Set of Four Queen Anne Silver-gilt salvers on foot, David Willaume I, London, 1704

circular with angled gadroon rims, the centers finely engraved with contemporary arms within foliate Baroque cartouches, raised on conforming detachable pedestal feet beneath foliate cut-card mounts, bases and feet with marks and scratch weights 26=10, 26=2, 25=5, 24=17, feet with scratch weights

Henry Gorges of Eye and Mynde, Herefordshire
Archibald, 5th Earl of Rosebery, purchased from Garrard & Co., 24 December 1878, '4 salvers £200'
Sold Sotheby's, London 11 February 1999, The Gorges Service, lot 22

clear marks, good condition, please refer to department to 212.606.7160
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.

The arms are those of Gorges, presumably for Henry Gorges of Eye and the Mynde, MP for Herefordshire in 1698 and later for Weobley and Leominster, for whom these salvers are believed to have been made.  Henry Gorges was the elest son of Ferdinando Gorges of Eye(fourth son of Henry Gorges of Batcombe, Somerset), who he succeeded in 1701.  The family fortune was accrued by his father Ferdinando (1565-1647), whose mercantile activities in the Barbadian trade earned him the moniker 'King of the Black Market". 

Henry Gorges (1665-1718) first marriage was to Elizabeth (d. 1710), daughter and heir of Robert Pye of the Mynde.  The couple had four children that appear to have survived in to adulthood.  In his will dated 12 March 1717 (proved 1 December 1719), he proclaims: "To my wife Dorothy... All my plate linnen household goods furniture and utensils...in my house in Devonshire Street, St Andrews Holborne And also such pieces of plate att mu house att Eye...as she shall choose not exceeding £100. To my daughter Meliora £4000 and £80 a year...my pearl necklace and one of my best silver cupps and covers with such salver as she shall choose for it to stand on...To my youngest daughter Mary £3000 and £60 a year and my diamond ring with her mother's hair and a silver cup and cover the fellow to that herein before given to her sister Meliora with such salver to sett the same on as after her sisters choices as aforesaid she shall choose...the remaining plate to my eldest son Robert barring the large tankard to my executor hor his trouble (PROB11/568/97)".  Henry Gorges deldest daughter Meliora died unmarried at the age of 43.  Her cup, cover and salver were willed to her younger sister Mary's daughter, Miss Huxley.

It is possible that that the present lot includes the salvers that were inherited by Meliora Gorges, Mary (Gorges) Huxley and later Miss Huxley.  Although the exact provenance of the salvers over the next century is unclear, it is known that Garrard & Co. had acquired a group of fine gilt plate engraved with the Gorges arms before December 1878.  In addition to the present lot, the service included a 1702 pair of cups and covers by Pierre Platel, a 1702 ewer by Platel, a 1716 set of four hexagonal silvers by Willaume, and a 1704 set of three casters also by Willaume.  The casters are currently part of the Gans Collection of English silver on display at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The Gorges service was purchased from Garrards by Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl Rosebery, on Christmas Eve 1878.  It was among a number of splendid works he had acquired that year, including two paintings of Rome by J.M.W. Turner.  Presumably, the service was intended as a gift for his wife, Hanna de Rothschild, whom he had recently married on 20 March 1878.  The Gorges silver was a particularly appropriate gift as it would have complimented the collection of fine silver gilt that Hannah had inherited from her father, Meyer Amschel de Rothschild, upon his death in 1874.

The purchase of the Gorges service on Christmas Eve was in keeping with Rothschild family tradition.  Baron Meyer de Rothschild, Hannah's grandfather, had previously made a number of extravagant  purchases in the comany of his agent, in Florence on Christmas Eve.

In 1893 Garrard was commissioned to expand the Gorges service by adding "4 hexagon silver spirit dishes with fancy gadroon borders on colet feet £84. Gilding and burnishing the above £32. Engraving arms, supporters on pieces £18." and " 4 round silver dishes to match the above £80. Gilding and burnishing do. £32. Engraving arms, supporters on 4 pieces £18".  These additional pieces were sold as part of the 1977 Mentmore sale.  The original early 18th century service purchased by Lord Rosebery on Christmas Eve was sold Sotheby's, London, 11 February 1999, lots 22-26.