A George II sterling silver snuffers tray, London 1743 by Thomas Gilpin (reg. 24th Sep 1730)

The tray section of shaped oval form with rim formed as rocaille shells and rocaille C scrolls. Raised on four cast dolphin feet. The fly-over C scroll handle with asymmetrical scroll rocaille cartouche. The centre engraved with traces of a contemporaneous impaled coat of arms in a scroll and shell cartouche. Fully marked to the reverse, and engraved 9oz = 8 dwts.

Length – 19.5 cm / 7.7 inches

Weight – 274 grams / 8.81 ozt

Tomas Gilpin was the son of Robert Gilpin and apprenticed to John Wells on the 7th January 1720, his first marked entered 24th September 1730 at ‘ye Acorn in ye Strand’. When he registered his second mark on the 2 July 1739 his address was given as Lincoln’s Inn Black Gate. Grimwade notes on Gilpin’s work that he “is an extremely accomplished exponent of Rococo style. He is well represented by the candlesticks and tureens in the collection at Althorp.”