Object Description
A Pair of wonderful George III antique silver salts, which are of circular form.
Each rococo-style salt has four heads of mythical gods or satyrs, which surmount the four feet (which in turn, culminate in three leaves). The heads are linked by swags of fruit and foliation.
The salts have gilt interiors which are engraved with the crest of Sir Matthew Lamb.
They are made by Parker & Wakelin of London in 1769.
The firm of Parker & Wakelin were the foremost silversmiths in London for much of the 18th century; supplying royalty, aristocracy and gentry, with both domestic and ceremonial plate.
The salts have gilt interiors which are engraved with the crest of Sir Matthew Lamb.
Dimensions: height 5.7 cm, width (at the rim) 7.62 cm
Provenance: Sir Matthew Lamb (1705-68) was the Grandfather of Prime Minister William Lamb the 2nd Viscount Melbourne, in office from 1835-41. He was Queen Victoria’s first Prime Minster.
The salts appear in the ledgers of Parker & Wakelin for the order date of Mar 26 1770, when one pair of salts were purchased and the four crests were engraved. These salts were once two pairs. This order was for Peniston Lamb, the 1st Viscount Melbourne (29 Jan 1745 – 22 July 1828), the son of Matthew and father to William.