Object Description
DESCRIPTION
A spectacular and incredibly rare large circular Georgian soup tureen on stand/table centrepiece. The body of the tureen has an upper strap work band which is sandwiched in between applied ornate floral motifs which are set on a matt background for contrast. The pedestal foot is decorated with upper acanthus leaf designs and an outer lower gadroon border which sits on top of a finely made bezel which has an ornate lower wire. The stand has additional two bands of stunning decoration and sits on four claw feet. There is a double contemporary armorial on the tureen and all of the other pieces have splendid wheat sheaf crests with latin motifs for importance.
Weight: 257 troy ounces/7993 grams
Height: 16 inches/40cm (total)
Width: 17 inches/43cm (back of handle to back of opposite handle)
Diameter: 11.4 inches/29cm (bowl)
Diameter 14.5 inches/37cm (stand)
Condition: Excellent throughout
Price: £45,000
Son of Robert Sharp of Newcastle on Tyne yeoman, apprenticed to Gawen Nash 4 February 1747 and turned over the same day to Thomas Gladwin Citizen and Merchant Taylor. Free 4 May 1757. First mark in partnership with Daniel Smith apparently entered by 1763 in the missing register. The firm appears as supplying plate to Parker and Wakelin in the latter’ ledger for 1766. Address by 1770: Aldermanbury, when a second Robert Sharp (presumably a nephew), son of John Sharp, late of Newcastle upon Tynebrewer deceased, was apprenticed to his uncle. Livery, December 1771. Appears with Daniel Smith as plateworkers, Aldermanbury, in the Parl. Report list 1773. Second mark as plateworker, in parnership with Richard Carter and Daniel Smith, 9 December 1778. Address: 14 Westmoreland Buildings, Aldersgate Street. Third, fourth and fifth marks, in partnership with Smith only again, 7 February 1780, same address. This last mark has been ascribed previousy to Robert Salmon, spoonmaker, for whom there is no recorded mark in the existing registers. A curious characteristic of the marks of Smith and Sharp after the Carter partnership was over, and of Sharp alone in 1788, is that each shows at the top edge of the punch traces of the bottom of the initials of the former partner, apparently intentionally. It can scarcely be likely with all the work of the firm that the old punch was good enough cut down, and seems a whim to suggest the change of the firm’s make-up. Robert Sharp died in 1803.