A large George II sterling silver salver, London 1730 by Francis Nelme (reg. 20th March 1723)

Of shaped circular form with a ‘bath border’ and shaped cavetto edge, raised on four shaped shell and scroll feet. The centre engraved with a later crest of an arm in arm embowed holding an anchor, reserved within a shield shape with a contemporaneous cartouche of foliate scrolls a scallop shell, infilled with fish scales, each side flanked by two lions couchant. Fully marked to the reverse.

Diameter – 48 cm / 18.9 inches

Weight – 2971 grams / 95.52 ozt

Francis Nelme was apprenticed to his father Anthony Nelme (reg. prior to April 1697) on 6th March 1712, free 9th April 1719. Anthony Nelme died around the 18th Feb 1723, whereby Francis registered himself with the same mark, a distinctive cursive N. He is recorded as working at St. Martin’s Ludgate in 1736. His father’s mark is seen on such a numerable quantity and varied type of objects from toilet services and maces, it demonstrates that it must have been one of the largest establishments at the end of the 17th century and early 18th century. However, unlike his father his work has not survived in such amble quantities nor over a sufficient range as to suggest quite so successful an enterprise, yet he did supply plate to the notorious Little Poyntz Meynell (d.1751) such as the shaped tea tray of 1726 in the Gilbert Collection in the V&A.

Nelme‘bathborder’ salvers

A gilt salver with the same form of border (21 cm) of 1728 by Nelme overstruck by Edward Cornock with a decoratively engraved field was sold Christie’s New York, 23 May 2007, Lot 171 ($18,000 incl. premium) to which the pair of waiters of 15.2 cm are illustrated in Clayton. M., (1985). Christie's Pictorial History of English and American Silver. Oxford: Phaidon. p.154.

Another salver of 1732 (21.2 cm) with the same form of border with later decoration sold Bonham’s Knightsbridge, 10 Feb 2004, Lot 353

Another salver of 1735 with the same form of border is in a private collection

Another salver of 1736 (27.8cm) sold these rooms, 26 June 2019, lot 500 (£1,125 incl. premium)

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