A very rare George III Beehive Honey Pot made in London in 1803 by Daniel Pontifex.
A very rare George III Beehive Honey Pot made in London in 1803 by Daniel Pontifex.
375439
This very rare example is very finely modelled in the form of a dome shaped Skep, or Beehive, with the separate straw coils bound with strips of briar or wild rose. A very finely detailed "Queen Bee" finial covers the apex and can be used as a knob for lifting off the cover. The main body also displays a little arched door for the bees to enter, such is its detailed design, and the flat slotted base is detachable, with a bayonet fitting. All pieces are in excellent condition and all pieces are well marked. Honey Pots are one of the most desirable items in Georgian British Silver, however very few were made and they seldom appear on the market.
Pontifex's first mark was entered as a large worker silversmith, in partnership with William Fountain (q.v.), 19 July 1791. Address: 13 Hosier Lane, West Smithfield. Partnership apparently dissolved by 1 September 1794, when Fountain entered a separate mark. Second mark alone, 10 September 1794, same address. Moved to 8, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, 1 April 1811. Heal records the partnership as above and Pontifex alone, both same dates; and the Pontifex and Fountain, silversmiths, same address, 1796. A.G Grimwade in his book "London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837", emphasises that his work, although scarce, shows a high standard of execution and delicacy of design.
Height: 4.7 inches.
Diameter of the base: 3.85 inches.
Weight: 12oz.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1760-1830/a-very-rare-george-iii-beehive-honey-pot-made-in-london-in-1803-by-daniel-pontifex&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/686fddace7f2e_image_url_MF50A.jpg&description=This very rare example is very finely modelled in the form of a dome shaped Skep, or Beehive, with the separate straw coils bound with strips of briar or wild rose. A very finely detailed "Queen Bee" finial covers the apex and can be used as a knob for lifting off the cover. The main body also displays a little arched door for the bees to enter, such is its detailed design, and the flat slotted base is detachable, with a bayonet fitting. All pieces are in excellent condition and all pieces are well marked. Honey Pots are one of the most desirable items in Georgian British Silver, however very few were made and they seldom appear on the market.Pontifex's first mark was entered as a large worker silversmith, in partnership with William Fountain (q.v.), 19 July 1791. Address: 13 Hosier Lane, West Smithfield. Partnership apparently dissolved by 1 September 1794, when Fountain entered a separate mark. Second mark alone, 10 September 1794, same address. Moved to 8, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, 1 April 1811. Heal records the partnership as above and Pontifex alone, both same dates; and the Pontifex and Fountain, silversmiths, same address, 1796. A.G Grimwade in his book "London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837", emphasises that his work, although scarce, shows a high standard of execution and delicacy of design. Height: 4.7 inches.Diameter of the base: 3.85 inches.Weight: 12oz.){kind=link}