John Houle Furniture

We are delighted to offer for sale 1 of 4 Gold gilt Sterling Silver plated, fully hallmarked for Sheffield 1919 Serving trays with engraved Armorial coat of arms crest for King George IV “His Royal Highness George Auguseue Frederick” These are truly exquisite trays, the armorial coat of arms is for King George IV, a brief history as below, these are the old set in gold gilt I have seen, they have each been fitted with a hanging tag so they are for display not use The trays are very decorative and expertly made, the Armorial coat of arms must have cost quite a pretty penny to have the press made. Each tray is fully hallmarked for the sideways facing Lion for Sterling Silver, the Queens Crown for Sheffield made and the date letter A for 1919 The condition of each tray is good, some have more wear and light discolouration than others as you would expect from 100+ year old pieces, there will be normal honest patina front and back, none have any chips or damage Dimensions Height:- 50cm Width:- 50cm Depth:- 3cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later. He had already been serving as Prince Regent since 5 February 1811, during his father's final mental illness. George IV was the eldest child of King George III and Queen Charlotte. He led an extravagant lifestyle that contributed to the fashions of the Regency era. He was a patron of new forms of leisure, style and taste. He commissioned John Nash to build the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and remodel Buckingham Palace, and commissioned Jeffry Wyatville to rebuild Windsor Castle. George's charm and culture earned him the title "the first gentleman of England", but his dissolute way of life and poor relationships with his parents and his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, earned him the contempt of the people and dimmed the prestige of the monarchy. He excluded Caroline from his coronation and asked the government to introduce the unpopular Pains and Penalties Bill in an unsuccessful attempt to divorce her. Despite presiding over the British Empire's emergence as a global hegemon, his rule was tarnished by scandal and financial extravagance. His ministers found his behaviour selfish, unreliable and irresponsible, and he was strongly influenced by favourites. During most of George's regency and reign, Lord Liverpool controlled the government as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Liverpool's government presided over Britain's ultimate victory over Napoleon and negotiated a peace settlement with the French. After Liverpool's retirement, George IV was forced to accept Catholic emancipation...

This handsome pair of campana form wine coolers feature bright cut foliate design bands above Mellon shaped gadrooning. The ring handles are mounted on Bacchus head masks, the god of...

Being offered is a complete set of twelve ice tea / mint julep spoons. Each set of six come in the original case. The case has hinges on the side and...

Hallmarked in London in 1905 by William Hutton & Sons, this charming set of 12 Antique Sterling Silver Tea Spoons & Matching Tongs, ...

A set of elegant sterling silver overlay service plates with the pre-1930 Lenox green mark. This opulent set is early 20th century, circa 1915 in an Edward...

A set of twelve antique sterling silver 'Entremet' knives, the blades hallmarked with the 950/100 Minerva head stamp and offered in their original blue si...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely sterling silver plated Webster & Wilcox serving tray. A good looking and highly decorative servin...

A wonderful Tiffany sterling silver finely engraved round and footed serving tray or platter centerpiece.

Hexagonal hinged top with lead lined interior, conforming case with brass strapping, raised on square tapered legs with spandrels at top of legs.

12 modern sterling (.800 Silver) & multicolored quartz ice tea spoons. Each one fitted with a 1/2" chunk of natural multi colored crystal set in abstract prong setting, with a long t...

A fine George IV silver-gilt vinaigrette, slender rounded rectangular form, engine-turned decoration, the silver-gilt interior with a finely pierced and engraved foliate grille. M...

This is a wonderful English antique George III sterling silver 10 inch salver, by the world famous silversmith Paul Storr. It has clear hallmarks for London 1811 and the makers mark of Paul Storr. It is typical of his work with the raised gadrooned rim with anthemion at intervals, on four fabulous foliate bracket feet. The salver is engraved with a crest and motto and the underside is later engraved Charlotte J. Parke from C. J. Parke, March 1893' The centre is engraved with a crest above a motto 'True and Fast' and I have researched this crest: The Crest of Parke The crest as engraved upon this George III English Sterling Silver Footed Salver by Paul Storr hallmarked London 1811 is that of the family of Parke. It may be blazoned as follows: Crest: A stag’s head couped sable holding in the mouth a key or Motto: True and fast The family of Parke originally hailed from the County of Cumberland in the northeast of England1 later settling in the County of Dorset at Henbury House, Sturminster Marshal, near Wimborne. Given the evidence of the inscription found on the underside of the salver ‘Charlotte J. Parke from C. J. Parke, March 1893’ it was undoubtedly at one time in the possession of Charles Joseph Parke (died 9th March 1893) of Henbury House aforesaid and gifted to Charlotte Josephine Parke (baptised 4th January 1857 died 2nd January 1941) his third daughter by his wife, Ellen Mary Ethelston. I would venture the following hypothesis that the salver was bequeathed to Charlotte in her father’s will that was granted probate at London on the 20th May 1893. The ‘March 1893’ of the inscription acts as a remembrance of the month of the death of her father. It was noted that Charlotte’s father left an estate worth some £66,892, 19 shillings and one pence, a very considerable sum in the last decade of the 19th Century and even thereafter. Charlotte never married and was living at the time of her death at The Coppice, Sixpenny Handley in the County of Dorset. Her will was proved for probate at Llandudno on the 25th March 1941. She left an estate worth £18,866, 10 shillings and 4 pence. Again, a comfortable sum in 1941. See the photo of Henbury House, Sturminster Marshal, near Wimborne, Co. Dorset. The former seat of the Parke family. The house was destroyed by fire, the remains of which were demolished in the 1990's. There is no mistaking its unique quality and design, which is sure to make it a treasured piece by any discerning collector. Condition: In excellent condition with clear hallmarks and no dings, dents or signs of repair. Please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 2 x Width 26.5 x Depth 26.5 Weight 0.69 kg Dimensions in inches: Height 1 inch x Width 10 inches x Depth 10 inches Weight 1.5 lbs Paul Storr born in London England in 1771, was to become one of the most talented silversmiths of the nineteenth century. Today his legacy of exceptionally well crafted silver, found worldwide in museums and private collections, leaves one in awe when compared to that of his contemporaries.After having served a seven year apprenticeship from the age of 14, he began his career in 1792 when he went into a brief partnership with William Frisbee. This did not last and in 1793 a new mark, (his initials ‘P S’) was entered. By the beginning of the nineteenth century he had established himself as one of London’s top silversmiths producing, amongst others, commissions for Royalty. In 1801 he married Elizabeth Susanna Beyer with whom he was to have ten children. In 1807 Paul Storr entered into a working relationship with Philip Rundell and by 1811 was a partner, and managing the workshops for Rundell, Bridge & Rundell. During this period he kept his own marks and separate workshop. However it was through Rundell, Bridge & Rundell who were appointed Goldsmith in Ordinary to George III in 1804 that his reputation as a master silversmith grew. His talents lay in being able to transform ideas and designs from Rundell, Bridge & Rundell’s designers, William Theed...