Silver, London hallmarks for 1742-43, mark of Paul de Lamerie.

Large, circular shaped silver dish, the border chased in high relief with a broad band of ornament incorporating figures of Jupiter representing Air, Venus as Earth, and two putti on the left and right of the coat of arms with elaborate surrounds of scrolls and masks (possibly Fire and Water), the centre applied with a reproduction of the original coat of arms.

The coat of arms of Algernon Coote, 6th Earl of Mountrath is Argent, a chevron sable between three coots purpure impaling those of his wife, Diana, daughter of Richard Newport, 2nd Earl of Bradford, Argent, a chevron gules, between three leopards' faces sable. The supporters: represent the Coote wolf sable ducally gorged argent and the Newport leopard guardant purpure; Vincit veritas is the Coote family motto. The coat of arms is surmounted by an Earl's coronet.

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

Previous owners: Algernon Coote, sixth earl of Mountrath. By descent to the earl of Portarlington. Colonel A. Heywood-Lonsdale, sale, Christie's, lot 126, 27/06/1956. Sir George Dowty. Purchased from J. H. Bourdon-Smith, Ltd., London, 1971.

This spectacular ewer and basin were intended for display on a dining room buffet to emphasize the status of the patron. Although the 6th Earl's father lived at 30 Burlington Street, London, in c.1721, see the basement plan designed by Lord Burlington in the V&A (E.2124:100-1992) by the early 1740s the 6th Earl and Countess of Mountrath lived in Grosvenor Square, in London's fashionable Mayfair. A similar commission from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, dates from 1741, and is still used for display on the buffet in the dining hall of the London guild which controls the quality of the production of silver in the British metropolis, and which Paul de Lamerie served as a Warden.

Algernon Coote, 6th Earl of Mountrath was born and educated in London and represented Castle Rising, Norfolk as MP from 1724-34 and Hedon, Yorkshire from 1742-1744. His wife outlived him by 22 years, and in her will specified a legacy of £2500 for the construction of a vault and a monument in the Holles Chapel, Westminster Abbey.

The Sixth Earl of Mountrath was one of de Lamerie's most important clients during the late 1730s and early 1740s, ordering sizeable quantities of plate from the goldsmith. He gave him considerable freedom to produce designs in the fullest and most imaginative rococo taste. This ewer and companion dish were produced in the middle of de Lamerie's career, when his powers of inventiveness were at their zenith and they are part of one of the most interesting groups of English 18th century silver plate ever produced.

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.

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