Description

An elegant pair of silver sauce tureens of boat shaped form having broad sweeping handles and cast silver lid finials beautifully modelled in the form of a lion. The decoration, typical of the late 18^th century, has gadroon borders and half fluted body. Very good weight and thick gauge silver. Particularly nice are the matching removeable liners, an unusual and very useful feature.

Total weight 1977g, 63.5 troy oz.
Height 18cm (to top of handle). Spread 19cm.
London 1790.
Maker William Laver.
Sterling silver.

Marks. Stamped on the bottom rim and edge of the lid with full and matching English silver hallmarks; the liners with the maker and lion mark only. The lids are numbered 1 and 2. The bodies have dot marks “3” and “4”.

Crests. The cast silver lid finials are beautifully modelled in the form of a crest of a demi-lion holding a “garb” (wheatsheaf) between its paws.

Literature. Antique Silver Tureens with side carrying handles were introduced during the reign of George II. The lid /cover helped to keep the contents warm. They are generally oval shaped, although they can be round or rectangular. Some have detachable liners and/or matching stands. Suitable for soup and stews, they often have a large matching ladle. Smaller sized tureens did not appear before 1760 and were used to serve sauces and gravy.