A George IV Irish silver-gilt presentation sideboard salver, James Fray, Dublin, retailed by Stewart & Sons, Dublin, 1828

shaped circular with massively cast details, on four lion mask and vine supports below an openwork border of scrolling foliage, flowers, fruit, lions' faces and four busts representing the Four Seasons, the centre applied with a similarly cast coat-of-arms, supporters, crest, baron's coronet and motto within an inscribed heraldic collar, the underside inscribed and applied with a small plate engraved with the retailer's name and address: ‘Stewart & Sons fecerunt Dame St. Dublin.’

Thomas, 1st Baron Manners (1756-1842), by descent to
Francis Henry, 4th Baron Manners (1897-1972), sold Sotheby's, London, 4 July 1968, lot 19
The Audrey B. Love Foundation from the collection of C. Ruxton Love, Christie's, New York, 14 June 1984, lot 131
The property of a gentleman (His Excellency Mahdi Al Tajir), Christie's, London, 16 November 2010, lot 484

Christie's, The Glory of the Goldsmith, Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection, London, 1989, pp. 206-207, no. 159

Christie's Review of the Season, London, 1982, p. 284
J.B. Hawkins, The Al Tajir Collection of Silver and Gold, London, 1983, vol, I, pp. 172-173
Michael Clayton, Christie's Pictorial History of English and American Silver, Oxford, 1985, p. 22, no. 1 and p. 23, no. 1a, detail
Christie's, The Glory of the Goldsmith, Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al Tajir Collection, London, 1989, pp. 206-207, no. 159

The border, centre, and applied coat of arms all fully hallmarked. Very well cast and of excellent gauge. Very light wear to gilding. Seven holding pins missing from border, and a further four from centre, however in no way loose fitting at these points. Good crisp condition. With original (probably) wooden stand in good order.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The arms are those of Manners for Thomas Manners-Sutton, 1st Baron Manners (1756-1842), who was the fifth son of Lord George Manners-Sutton (1723-1783) and his wife, Diana and the grandson of John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland. A barrister by profession, he married twice, first, in 1803, to Anne (d. 1814), daughter of Sir Joseph Copley, Bt. of Sprotbrough, by whom he had no issue, and second, in 1815, to Jane, daughter of James Butler of Fethard, by whom he had an only son, his successor. Manners was appointed Solicitor-General of England in 1802, one of the barons of the Exchequer in 1805, and Lord-Chancellor of Ireland in 1807, upon which occasion he was elevated to the peerage.  He retired from public office in 1827.

The inscription reads: 'THOMAS LORD MANNERS PRESENTED BY THE OFFICERS OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY IRELAND AS A MARK OF THEIR AFFECTION GRATITUDE AND RESPECT.'

‘SPLENDID PRESENT TO LORD MANNERS.
‘A Salver, weighing upwards of 400oz. of Silver, has been just completed by order of the Officers of the Court of Chancery, and is intended to be presented to Lord Manners.
‘The massive border, nearly four inches broad, contains four heads in alto relievo, representing the Seasons, with their appropriate emblems – the spaces between have four shields, and the interstices are completed by rich foliage and fruit; in the centre, on the highly burnished plate, stands his Lordship’s Arms, chased in the boldest manner, on a large scale, and surrounded by a ribbon, bearing the inscription . . . The whole is most superbly gilt, and the design and execution are highly creditable to our native artists. The Subscribers will permit it to remain for a few days at the Manufacturers’, Stewart & Sons, Dame street, for the gratification of the Nobility and Gentry who take an interest in the advance of the arts in Ireland.’ (The Dublin Mercantile Advertiser, and Weekly Price Current, Dublin, Monday, 1 December 1828, p. 2d)

The inscription on the underside of the salver reads:
‘Masters
Thomas Ellis
William Henn
Roderick Connor
John Sealy Townsend
‘John Boyd, Acco^t. Gen^l.
‘Reg^rs.
Francis Prendergast
Charles OKeeffe
‘Retired Six Clerks
Edward Woods
Jones Stevelly
Francis Dwyer
Richard Hudson
‘Thomas Lockwood Sec^y.
‘David M^cKay , Pursuiv^t.
‘Thomas Bourchier, D^y. Cl^k. of Crown & Hanaper
‘Robert Wogan, D^y. Keeper of the Rolls
‘Six Clerks
John Brennan
Henry George Head
John William Ball
Robert Murdock
George Hudson
Yelverton Dawson
‘William Edward Porter Clerk of Recog^s.’