Object Description
A stunning set of 12 antique silver plates of plain design having the early form with wide, flat borders and plain rims. Each has a hand engraved coat of arms for Stanley impaling Sloane. Lovely patina and excellent original condition. This is the earliest form of plate you can hope to find in a dozen set.
Weight 5,311g, 170 troy oz.
Diameter 24.2cm (outside rim), 16cm (inside rim)
London 1700.
Maker Ralph Leeke (or Leake).
Britannia standard silver 95.8% pure.
Marks. To the reverse side of each is a full and matching set of clear English silver hallmarks.
Signed/Inscribed: The arms are those of Stanley impaling Sloane, for George Stanley Esq. (d.1733), of Paultons, co. Southampton and his wife Sarah (d.1764) daughter of Sir Hans Sloane 1st Bt., (1660-1753), physician to King George I and Fellow and President of the Royal Society. George Stanley and Sarah Sloane were married in 1719 and their son Hans Stanley (1720-1780) was born a year later. He later became a Tory member of Parliament for Southampton in 1754, Privy Councillor and ambassador-extraordinary to St. Petersburg. George Stanley died at his own hand in 1733.
Britannia Standard silver. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent pure. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720.
Maker: Ralph Leake
Ralph Leake (or Leeke), London silversmith, apprenticed to plateworker Thomas Littleton 1664, free 1671. He was active in the Goldsmiths Company during this career, being appointed to Livery 1685, serving as Renter Warden 1698, becoming Assistant 1703 and serving as Touch Warden 1713.
Leake left a legacy of fine silverwares, many of which are on show in museums and galleries worldwide such as:
1. silver gilt chalice and paten dated 1683-1684 in the V & A collection.
2. The Royal Hospital Chelsea has a collection of magnificent silver-gilt altar plate hall-marked 1687-8 by Ralph Leake.
3. French fountain in the Getty Museum
4. Two wine cisterns – one in the V & A, the other belonging to the Goldsmith’s Company
5. The Marquess of Winchester’s Cup, one of the outstanding pieces of the Winchester College Collection.
Leake’s workshop took on 9 apprentices during his busy career.
An earlier Ralph Leake, maybe a cousin, was apprenticed to the King’s goldsmith-banker Sir Robert Vyner (and Lord Mayor of London) in 1645, free by service in 1656. Leake also worked with Sir Christopher Wren.
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