Bowl, painted with a coat of arms and crest, by William Beilby, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,1765

Circular, low foot. Painted on opposite sides with a shield of arms (sable, a fesse ermine between three leopards' heads argent) and a crestr (a demi-hound gorged or) between passages of trellis diaper bordered by rococo scrollwork and separated by two groups of trophies. Above the group on one side (an anchor, a flag, sprays of palm and a laurel-wreath) is the signature "Beilby Invt & pinxt", and above that on the other (cannon and cannon balls, sprays of palm and the English flag) is the date "Newcastle 1765".

Given by Rev. G. B. Riddell

The coat of arms has been identified as that of Lt. Richard Johnson Hill (d.1793) of Thornton Hall in West Yorkshire. In 1753, Hill had inherited Thornton Hall from John Hill (c.1690-1753) under the protection of Lord Rockingham, his predecessor's executor and trustee of the Thornton estate and for whom the Beilbys were commissioned to decorate an armorial goblet, circa 1763 (now in the Fitzwilliam Museum).

On acquisition the arms were though to represent the Lea family. A sable, a fesse engrailed ermine, between three leopard's heads argent is recorded as the shielf of Leigh (or Lea) no branch of which however is recorded having the crest here used, which is stated by the donor to be that of the Riddell family.

RP 42/362

This bowl was enamelled by the painter William Beilby of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The coat of arms is that of Lt. Richard Johnson Hill (d.1793) of Thornton Hall in West Yorkshire. In 1753, Hill had inherited Thornton Hall from John Hill (c.1690-1753) under the protection of Lord Rockingham, his predecessor's executor and trustee of the Thornton estate and for whom the Beilbys were commissioned to decorate an armorial goblet, circa 1763 (now in the Fitzwilliam Museum).

C.43-1942