The Maynard Casters. An exceptional set of three George II Casters made in London in 1742 by Samuel Wood.
The Maynard Casters. An exceptional set of three George II Casters made in London in 1742 by Samuel Wood.
374176
These exceptional Casters are modelled in sizes, one for sugar, one for pepper or spice and the third for dry mustard. Each is baluster shaped in form and stands on a cast and applied circular spreading foot decorated with reeding. The covers are unusually cast and display alternate writhen bands which are chased and pierced with foliate scroll work. The dry mustard caster cover is not pierced, just chased, as was the norm for casters used for mustard. Each cover terminates in a cast bell finial. The front of the main body is engraved with a contemporary Crest, below the coronet of a Baron. Each piece is fully marked in the foot and with the maker's mark and sterling mark on the cover. The quality of production, and weight, is exceptional and they are one of the finest complete sets we have offered over the years. The original scratch engraved weight is shown on the underside of the foot of the largest caster. Samuel Wood was a specialist caster maker who was apprentice to Thomas Bamford, who himself was apprentice to Charles Adam, all caster makers, highlighting the continuous line of these specialists. Wood in turn trained Jabez Daniel and Robert Piercy, both clearly established in the same line of production. He had a very long career as he was born in 1704 and was free from his Master in 1730. He died in 1794 and it was noted that "for the last two years of his life he used to ride to town every week, to transact business at Goldsmiths Hall, being the father and oldest member of that Company."
The Crest and Coronet are those as used by the Maynard family, specifically for Grey Maynard, 5th Baronet. His seat was the fabulous Easton Lodge, Little Easton, County Essex, the estate given to the family by Queen Elizabeth I. An engraving of the house is shown. He succeeded to the title in 1742, so these may well have been purchased to celebrate his accession. He died unmarried in 1745 and was the second son of Banaster Maynard, 3rd Baronet, who married Lady Elizabeth Grey, only daughter of Henry, 10th Earl of Kent. He was succeeded by his younger brother Charles, who was created Viscount Maynard. All this family's honours became extinct in 1865.
Larger Caster:
Height: 8 inches, 20cm.
Diameter at the widest point: 3.25 inches, 8.13cm.
Smaller Casters:
Height: 6.25 inches, 15.63cm.
Diameter at the widest point: 2.5 inches, 6.25cm.
TOTAL WEIGHT: 27.5 oz.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1649-1759/the-maynard-casters-an-exceptional-set-of-three-george-ii-casters-made-in-london-in-1742-by-samuel-wood&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/622e1d19790e2_513_374176.jpg&description=These exceptional Casters are modelled in sizes, one for sugar, one for pepper or spice and the third for dry mustard. Each is baluster shaped in form and stands on a cast and applied circular spreading foot decorated with reeding. The covers are unusually cast and display alternate writhen bands which are chased and pierced with foliate scroll work. The dry mustard caster cover is not pierced, just chased, as was the norm for casters used for mustard. Each cover terminates in a cast bell finial. The front of the main body is engraved with a contemporary Crest, below the coronet of a Baron. Each piece is fully marked in the foot and with the maker's mark and sterling mark on the cover. The quality of production, and weight, is exceptional and they are one of the finest complete sets we have offered over the years. The original scratch engraved weight is shown on the underside of the foot of the largest caster. Samuel Wood was a specialist caster maker who was apprentice to Thomas Bamford, who himself was apprentice to Charles Adam, all caster makers, highlighting the continuous line of these specialists. Wood in turn trained Jabez Daniel and Robert Piercy, both clearly established in the same line of production. He had a very long career as he was born in 1704 and was free from his Master in 1730. He died in 1794 and it was noted that "for the last two years of his life he used to ride to town every week, to transact business at Goldsmiths Hall, being the father and oldest member of that Company."The Crest and Coronet are those as used by the Maynard family, specifically for Grey Maynard, 5th Baronet. His seat was the fabulous Easton Lodge, Little Easton, County Essex, the estate given to the family by Queen Elizabeth I. An engraving of the house is shown. He succeeded to the title in 1742, so these may well have been purchased to celebrate his accession. He died unmarried in 1745 and was the second son of Banaster Maynard, 3rd Baronet, who married Lady Elizabeth Grey, only daughter of Henry, 10th Earl of Kent. He was succeeded by his younger brother Charles, who was created Viscount Maynard. All this family's honours became extinct in 1865.Larger Caster:Height: 8 inches, 20cm.Diameter at the widest point: 3.25 inches, 8.13cm.Smaller Casters:Height: 6.25 inches, 15.63cm.Diameter at the widest point: 2.5 inches, 6.25cm.TOTAL WEIGHT: 27.5 oz.){kind=link}