A George III sterling silver finger bowl or slop bowl, London 1801 by Paul Storr (1771-1844, first reg. 12 Jan 1793)

Of circular tapering form with moulded rim and half fluted body. Engraved to the side with a crest of out of a ducal coronet two forked pennons, one or the other sable. Gilt interior. Fully marked to the side, and with scratch weight underneath 87.8.

Diameter – 10.2 cm / 4 inches

Weight – 193 grams / 6.2 ozt

The crest is for Calvert

Possibly for John Calvert (1726-1804) son of Felix Calvert and Mary Calvert, who married Elizabeth Hulse (1732-1807), daughter of Sir Edward Hulse, they resided at Albury Hall, Hertfordshire, which he inherited in 1755 upon the death of his grandfather, and had it remodelled in 1780.

There is some disparity between this crest and that listed for the family, namely if the pheons are forked or not.

A coffee pot of 1763 is engraved with a version of the Calvert crest, sold Bonham’ s, Knightsbridge, 7 Dec 2011, Lot 353 (£2,875 incl. premium)

The presence of the scratch weight suggests that this once formed part of a larger tea set or, most unusually, as part of a set silver finger bowls which ordinarily were in glass.

Andrew Milne Collection