Design for a silver plateau by Charles James Richardson (1806-1871), circa 1850

A drawing of the side of a silver plateau, by Charles James Richardson (1806-1871), circa 1850.
In the centre a bearded male mask crowned with laurel leaves, on either side oak wreaths and goats.
Profile, less than full size.

This drawings is a full size copy by Richardson of a drawing by Stothard in Tate (T09968) of perhaps circa 1812. It was made towards a lithograph plate (see 15275:15) by Thomas Picken in Richardson's Studies of Ornamental Designs, 1851.
In the text of the publication (see 15275:7) it is described as "The edge of a silver plateau shown half full size". The plate is entitled "Statuettes in silver, designed by the late Thomas Stothard RA".
A sheet of sketches for the same plateau is in Tate (T09969), showing the development of the design and the inclusion of an Irish harp in the English oak leaf border. On the other side of the same sheet are several sketches for vases and cups.
The central mask may represent Zeus or Silenus.
This object was once part of an album of designs by various architects, artists and designers collected by the architect Charles James Richardson, and was bought from him by the Museum in 1863.
A tray in the Gilbert Collection (GILBERT.774-2008). marked by Paul Storr and hallmarked 1808-09, has on the border similar masks and oak leaf decoration.

3436:193