A rare George I Irish sterling silver Warwick cruet frame, Dublin 1715 by Thomas Williamson (active 1710-40)

The base of septuafoil form, with four half-cast pillar supports, the centre of the galleried support structure with a circular carrying handle with ring top. The front cartouche engraved with a quartered coat of arms with another on an escutcheon of pretence. Fully marked underneath and makers mark twice.

Length – 19.25 cm / 7.6 inches

Weight – 573 grams / 18.42 ozt

The arms are for Montgomery with Tomkyns on an escutcheon of pretence

For Sir William Montgomery of Magbiehill, 1^st Bt. (1717-1788) who married Hannah Tomkyns on the 1^st July 1750

He was the son of William Montgomery of Magbiehill (d.1768) and Barbara Rutherford. His first wife Hannah Tomkyns was the daughter of Alexander Tomkyns, of Prehen, County Londonderry. He married, secondly, Anne Evatt (d.1777) daughter of Humphry Evatt of Mount Louise, County Monaghan, Ireland, on the 9^th January 1762.

He succeeded as the 1st Baronet Montgomery, of Magbiehill on 29^th October 1774. He held the office of Member of Parliament ([Ireland.) He lived at Macbie Hill, Peebles-shire, Scotland.

Thomas Williamson of Cole Alley was made a freeman in 1726, warden in 1734-7, his widow Mary continued the business.

This would appear to be the one of if not the earliest surviving Irish cruet frame, London examples where casters and glass oil and vinegar bottle are held in a frame are known from at least 1700, but generally it was not until the middle of the 18^th century that ‘Warwick’ cruets became more wildly popular, including in Ireland.