Description
of oval outline and baluster bellied form with cast acanthus handles and foliate supports, the pull off cover of domed form with gadrooned border and shell details, with cast foliate finial, applied armorial to body and crests to cover, raised on four cast paw feet and lion mask supports, together with unmarked liner
Dimensions
37.5cm long, 25cm high, 23cm deep, weighable silver: 80oz
Footnote
Provenance: Private Collection from an Ambassador's Residence; Property of a lady, Christies New York, May 21st 2014, lot 98
Note: The armorial bearings as engraved upon this George III English soup tureen are those of the family of Ormsby-Gore with Ormsby in pretence. These armorial bearings denote the marshalling of a marital coat showing the arms of the husband over the entire surface of the shield, whilst the arms of the wife (as an heraldic heiress) are placed on a small
shield (known as an escutcheon of pretence) centrally on the husband’s arms.
These armorial bearings undoubtedly commemorate the marriage of William Ormsby-Gore (born 14th March 1779 died 4th May 1860), of Porkington, Selatyn in the County of Salop and Mary Jane Ormsby (born 17th September 1781 died 10th September 1869). William and Mary were married at the Parish Church of St George, Hanover Square in Middlesex on the 11th January 1815. From their marriage William assumed the additional surname and arms of Ormsby by Royal Licence as bore upon his quartered arms of Gore and Ormsby, Mary’s paternal quartered arms as an escutcheon of pretence. It is interesting to note that a comment to this effect was added, it is to be presumed by the incumbent of St George’s, Hanover Square within the marriage entry of William and Mary. As this note is fairly indistinct it reads as follows ‘William Gore who has received permission from His Royal Highness The Prince Regent to assume the name of
Ormsby in addition to & before the name of Gore from the solemnisation of this marriage’.