ROYAL. HIS BRITANNICK MAJESTY'S MISSION AT BERLIN 1816. A highly important & magnificent pair of George III Cast Salt/Spice Cellars made in London in 1804 by Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith.
ROYAL. HIS BRITANNICK MAJESTY'S MISSION AT BERLIN 1816. A highly important & magnificent pair of George III Cast Salt/Spice Cellars made in London in 1804 by Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith.
374614
These magnificent vessels are cast and stand on a circular platform, with ball feet, and a border decorated with reed and tie, interspersed with fruiting vines. The cellar above, is bolted in place, and is circular in form with a gilded interior and an everted reed and tie border, also interspersed with fruiting vines. The large slightly baluster main body is decorated with unusual linear curtains interspersed with very detailed lion mask mouldings and lion paw feet, the surface textured to simulate the fur of the lion. The legs each display a shield of crossed oak branches and acorns. The top of the domed platform is engraved with the Royal Crest of England, surrounded by the Motto of the Order of the Garter and the Sovereign's Crown above. The underside of the base is engraved "His Britannick Majesty's Mission at Berlin 1816", as well as their number within the service and their original scratch weight. The cellars are fully marked on the underside and on the side of the cellar. Both are in excellent condition and are of an exceptionally heavy weight.
These pieces would have formed part of a large service lent by the Jewel House under the supervision of the Lord Chamberlain's office for the Mission headed by Sir George Henry Rose (1771-1855), sent to the Prussian Court in 1816, following the departure of Lord Stewart (later 3rd Marquess of Londonderry) for Vienna. Instead of commissioning a new service, it would appear that the Jewel House used an existing Royal Service for the mission. Salt Cellars of this design are still in the Royal Collection and a magnificent set of four by the same maker's 1803/04 came up at Christies in New York, part of the Alan & Simone Hartman Collection with an estimate of £ 40-60,000 ! This is the first time we have seen this design outside of our library. They are highly important examples of English Royal Silver used on an important Diplomatic mission to Berlin.
Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith were in partnership from 1802-1807 and produced some of the finest silver of the period. They supplied the Royal Household and the Royal Retailers Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, in addition to many of the noble, and aristocratic households, of the country.
Height: 3 inches.
Diameter of the base: 4.75 inches.
Weight: 36oz, the pair.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1760-1830/royal-his-britannick-majestys-mission-at-berlin-1816-a-highly-important-magnificent-pair-of-george-iii-cast-saltspice-cellars-made-in-london-in-1804-by-digby-scott-benjamin-smith&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/62f696d0b5ae2_image_url_royal90.jpg&description=These magnificent vessels are cast and stand on a circular platform, with ball feet, and a border decorated with reed and tie, interspersed with fruiting vines. The cellar above, is bolted in place, and is circular in form with a gilded interior and an everted reed and tie border, also interspersed with fruiting vines. The large slightly baluster main body is decorated with unusual linear curtains interspersed with very detailed lion mask mouldings and lion paw feet, the surface textured to simulate the fur of the lion. The legs each display a shield of crossed oak branches and acorns. The top of the domed platform is engraved with the Royal Crest of England, surrounded by the Motto of the Order of the Garter and the Sovereign's Crown above. The underside of the base is engraved "His Britannick Majesty's Mission at Berlin 1816", as well as their number within the service and their original scratch weight. The cellars are fully marked on the underside and on the side of the cellar. Both are in excellent condition and are of an exceptionally heavy weight.These pieces would have formed part of a large service lent by the Jewel House under the supervision of the Lord Chamberlain's office for the Mission headed by Sir George Henry Rose (1771-1855), sent to the Prussian Court in 1816, following the departure of Lord Stewart (later 3rd Marquess of Londonderry) for Vienna. Instead of commissioning a new service, it would appear that the Jewel House used an existing Royal Service for the mission. Salt Cellars of this design are still in the Royal Collection and a magnificent set of four by the same maker's 1803/04 came up at Christies in New York, part of the Alan & Simone Hartman Collection with an estimate of £ 40-60,000 ! This is the first time we have seen this design outside of our library. They are highly important examples of English Royal Silver used on an important Diplomatic mission to Berlin.Digby Scott & Benjamin Smith were in partnership from 1802-1807 and produced some of the finest silver of the period. They supplied the Royal Household and the Royal Retailers Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, in addition to many of the noble, and aristocratic households, of the country.Height: 3 inches.Diameter of the base: 4.75 inches.Weight: 36oz, the pair.){kind=link}