Silver-gilt, London hallmarks for 1727-28 (Britannia standard), mark of Paul Crespin

A large circular dish with broad rim and deep centre, the outermost border chased with ovolo ornament and stylized rosettes on a matted ground. The second border, far more ornate, is composed of six classical portrait busts of Greek philosophers within laurel wreaths all encompassed by a framework of strapwork, scrolling foliage, and female masks on matted and trelliswork ground. The central medallion is decorated with an applied escutcheon surmounted by a marquess's coronet within an elaborate pierced and chased surround of putti, strapwork, and swags on an engraved trelliswork ground. The centre boss was later engraved with the Grenville coat of arms. The border between the central medallion and the broad rim was added later and is composed of a flat-chased band of scrolls, shells, and scalework. The names of each philosopher is engraved on the reverse: HERACLITUS, DEMOCRITUS, DIOGENES, ANTISTHENES, ZALEUCUS and SOCRATES.

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Tessa Murdoch (1985, p. 557) comments that "this impressive dish was probably made for the duke of Buckingham's ancestor, Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham, as the classical theme of the decoration is in keeping with the character of the house and gardens at Stowe, which were planned in the 1720s". It would appear to have been modified on at least two occasions subsequent to its original manufacture. The engraved rococo scale and scrollwork around the central cartouche was probably done between ten and fifteen years later; this decoration bears a close resemblance to that on a series of trays by de Lamerie dating from the mid 1730s to early 1740s (see for example, Clayton, 1985B, P. 170, no. 3 and Phillips, 1935, pl. LXXXVII). The gilding is certainly not original and probably dates from the time at which the coat of arms and marquess's coronet were added, that is, in or after 1813. (Schroder, 1988, p.194) The arms...are those of Grenville, for Richard, second marquess of Buckingham (1776-1839). In 1796 he married Lady Anna Eliza, daughter and sole heir of James Brydges, duke of Chandos, in consequence of which he assumed in 1799 the additional surnames of Brydges-Chandos. He succeeded his father in 1813 and was created Earl Temple of Stowe, marquess of Chandos, and duke of Buckingham in 1822. (Schroder, 1988, p. 192)

Paul Crespin was born in London, son of Daniel Crespin of the parish of St Giles, Westminster. In June 1713, at the surprisingly late age of 19, Crespin was apprenticed to Jean Pons, silversmith, of the same parish. Between July 1720 and December 1721 Crespin entered his first two marks at Goldsmiths’ Hall and was described as free of the Longbowstringmakers’ Company. Crespin’s mature apprenticeship may account for the high quality of his earliest marked work.

Such high-quality production at an early age is remarkable and within three years the same goldsmith showed “a fine silver bathing vessel (made for the King of Portugal) to his Majesty at Kensington who was well pleased with so curious a piece of workmanship”. This vessel, assayed at Goldsmiths’ Hall in July 1724, “weigh’d about 6030 ounces”.
Both an unusually large silver circular basin of 1722 by Crespin (in the Wilding Collection at the British Museum) and the 1721 Colonial Williamsburg cruet set share a Portuguese provenance. In the 1720s Crespin also combined with other London-based Huguenot goldsmiths to supply a large service for the Empress Catherine of Russia. A silver-gilt two-handled cup and cover of 1726 by Crespin can still be seen in the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg.

Provenance: Richard Grenville, second marquess of Buckingham, Stowe House, sale, Christie's, lot 441 (18th day's sale), September 6, 1838. Quentin II Dick. The Dick Family, sale, Sotheby Parke-Bernet, New York, lot 60., December 16-17, 1976.

Such a spectacular piece was probably intended for display on the buffet. The gilding may be later for Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Marquess of Buckingham, born in 1797 he succeeded his father as second Duke of Buckingham in 1839. Within eight years he was declared bankrupt. A similarly elaborate dish marked by London goldsmith John Houle, 1824, was included in the Ballyedmond Collection, Sotheby's 24 May 2017 lot 447. It was sold at Christie's Stowe 18th day 6 September 1848 lot 463 to Lord Ward for £90 10s and then described as ' A magnificent circular sideboard dish with a group of bacchanalian children, after Fiamingo, in the centre and children and flowers in high relief in the borders' 26 inches diameter weighting 181 ounces.'

When sold at Sotheby Park Bernet NYC 16/17 December 1976 (lot 60) it was described as
'Magnificent George II silver-gilt sideboard dish, Paul Crespin, London, 1727.

The centre engraved with armorials centring an applied openwork baroque cartouche incorporating five putti, one with a mirror, another with a lute, a third with a rose and spaniel, the fourth eating grapes, and the fifth a parrot, emblematic of the Five Senses, surrounded by swags of fruit, and below a grotesque mask and coronet, all on a chased diaper ground. surrounded by a flat-chased band of rococo strapwork added c. 1734 the wide border applied with profile medallions identified on the back as Diogenes, Antisthenes, Zalculeus, Socrates, Heraclitus and Democritus each alternating with a full-face female mask wearing a shell-headress and linked by applied foliate stapwork on matted ground, the rim boldly chased with flowerheads within interlaced ribbons spaced by bell-flowers.

405 ozs
Diameter 28 inches (71 cm)
The arms are those of Richard, Marquess of Buckingham, K.G. Earl Temple of Stowe, who married in 1796 Lady Anna Eliza Brydges; he later became Marquess of Chandos and Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.

The engraving of the arms is of the Regency period & probable that the coronet may have been changed at the same time.

Crespin's imposing dish has been altered to reflect changes in ownership. It was probably made for Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham of Stowe in Buckinghamshire. The Rococo decoration around the centre was added about 1740, and the coat of arms for Richard Grenville, 2nd Marquess of Buckingham, after 1812, from which period the gilding most probably dates.

When the Catholic King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, Huguenots (French Protestants) were forced to leave the country. Many were craftsmen who settled in London. Their technical skills and fashionable French style ensured the luxury silver, furniture, watches and jewellery they made were highly sought after. Huguenot specialists transformed English silver by introducing higher standards of craftsmanship. They promoted new forms, such as the soup tureen and sauceboat, and introduced a new repertoire of ornament, with cast sculptural details and exquisite engraving.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.

LOAN:GILBERT.717-2008