The Exceptional Sale on the 5th July at Christies included a world record price for an English Dinner service – the Leinster Service a George II Silver dinner service. The Leinster Dinner-Service realised £1,721,250 / $2,685,150 / €2,141,235, (estimate: £1.5 million – 2 million), setting a world record price for an English dinner service sold at auction, and doubling the previous record.
Comprising 70 dinner plates, 18 soup plates, 29 dishes, 22 dish covers, 4 candlesticks, 11 salvers, 8 sauceboats and many other pieces, it is the grandest and the most complete surviving aristocratic service.
Its cost far exceeded that of the Prince of Wales’ service and unlike so many it has remained almost intact. The Leinster Dinner-Service is rare, not only because of its survival but also because its commission is fully listed in the Gentleman’s Ledgers of its maker, the Royal goldsmith George Wickes.
The service is in the Rococo style which was both highly fashionable and costly. The exceptional quality of the cast and chased ornament on, for example, the soup-tureens, epergne and plateau, together with the sheer quantity of silver used made the Leinster dinner-service the most costly of commissions.
Lot Description
THE LEINSTER SERVICE A GEORGE II SILVER DINNER-SERVICE MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1745-1756
Comprising the following as detailed fully on the following pages:
A pair of Soup-Tureens, Covers, Liners, Stands and Ladles
An Epergne and Plateau
Seventy Dinner-Plates
A set of Eighteen Soup-Plates
A set of Twenty-Nine Dishes, Twenty-Two Covers and Two Mazarines
A set of Eleven Salvers and Waiters
A set of Four Candlesticks
A set of Eight Sauceboats and Four Sauce-Ladles
A pair of Cruet-Stands
A pair of Boxes and Covers
A set of Four Condiment-Vases
Total gross weight 5,295 oz. 9 dwt. (164,705 gr.)
(184)
The arms are those of FitzGerald impaling the Royal arms of Charles II for James FitzGerald, 20th Earl of Kildare, later 1st Duke of Leinster (1722-1773), and his wife Lady Emily (1731-1814), daughter of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, whom he married on 7 February 1747.
a.)
A PAIR OF GEORGE II SILVER SOUP-TUREENS, COVERS, LINERS, STANDS AND LADLES
THE LINERS, STANDS AND LADLES EACH WITH THE MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746, THE TUREENS AND COVERS APPARENTLY UNMARKED, CIRCA 1746
Each shaped oval on four openwork leaf-capped scroll feet, chased and pierced with stylized shells and scrolls and with reeded handles, the domed covers similarly chased and with reeded handles, each with plain liner, the stands with shell handles and reeded and shell borders, each with soup-ladle with fluted shell bowl, the stands each engraved with a coat-of-arms below an earl’s coronet, the liners and ladles each engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, marked under the liners, stands and on ladles, the liners each numbered and engraved with a scratchweight ‘No 1 19?=5′ and ‘No 2 191=12′, the stands engraved ‘No 1 88=12′ and ‘No 2 89=5′, the ladles engraved ‘No 1 11=12′ and ‘No 2 11=?’
The stands 21 in. (53.5 cm.) long
570 oz. 8 dwt. (17,742 gr.)
(6)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 17 February 1746 ‘To 2 Turreens [sic] 2 Dishes and 2 Ladles 592 oz. 14 dwt 6/1 £180 5s 6d’
‘To Making at 7/6 £222 5s 3 d’
‘To Graving Arms and Mantling on these 4 crests & Corts £8 12s’
b.)
A GEORGE II SILVER EPERGNE AND PLATEAU
THE PLATEAU WITH MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746, THE EPERGNE APPARENTLY UNMARKED, CIRCA 1746
The epergne on six shell and leaf-capped scroll feet and with pierced canopy, cast and chased with trailing vines and a finial cast as a basket of flowers, the plateau on four leaf-capped scroll feet and with shell, scroll and foliage border, the sides applied with foliage scrolls and cast with cornucopia, engraved with a coat-of-arms below an earl’s coronet within trailing foliage issuing from vases, with mahogany base set with four part-ivory castors, the plateau fully marked underneath and with maker’s mark only on border
the plateau 26¾ in. (68 cm.) long
gross weight 395 oz. 14 dwt. (12,307 gr.)
(2)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 19 August 1746
‘To a Fine Epargne [sic] and Basket & Table 427 oz. 16 dwt. 16/- £342 5s’
‘To Graving the Border and Arms on the Table and Arm on Baskets £16 16s’
‘To a Mahogany Board & brass Casters Silver’d for the Table £1 10s’
c.)
SEVENTY SILVER DINNER-PLATES
SIXTY-NINE WITH MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, THIRTY-SEVEN 1745, TWENTY 1746, TWELVE 1756, ONE MODERN
Each shaped circular and with reeded and shell borders, each engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked underneath, further engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No3 19=5′; ‘No 4 20=0′; ‘No 5 20=2′; ‘No 7 19=19′ ‘No 10 19=10′;’No 11 19=17′; ‘No 12 19=8′; ‘No 13 19=13′; ‘No 14 19=8′; ‘No 15 19=18′; ‘No 17 19=17′; ‘No 19 19=12′; ‘No 21 19=16′; ‘No 22 19=8′; ‘No 24 19=14′; ‘No 26 19=17′; ‘No 27 19=18′; ‘No 28 20=0′; ‘No 29 20=4′; ‘No 30 19=19′; ‘No 31 20=3′; ‘No 32 19=10′; ‘No 33 19=19′; ‘No 34 20=1′; ‘No 35 19=8′; ‘No 36 19=12′; ‘No 37 19=18′; ‘No 38 19=18′; ‘No 39 19=18′; ‘No 40 19=15′; ‘No 41 19=11′; ‘No 43 19=11′; ‘No 44 19=10′; ‘No 45 19=10′; ‘No 46 19=15′; ‘No 47 19=9′; ‘No 48 19=9′; ‘No 50 19=11′; ‘No 51 19=13′; ‘No 52 19=15′; ‘No 53 19=17′; ‘No 54 19=13′; ‘No 55 19=6′; ‘No 56 20=1′; ‘No 57 19=19′; ‘No 58 19=14′; ‘No 59 19=11′; ‘No 60 19=16′; ‘No 61 19=16′; ‘No 63 19=10′; ‘No 64 19=13′; ‘No 66 19=8′; ‘No 67 19=7′; ‘No 68 19=17′; ‘No 69 19=14′; ‘No 70 19=6′; ‘No 71 19=18′; ‘No 74 19=19′; ‘No 76 19=17′; ‘No 77 19=18′; ‘No 78 19=18′; ‘No 79 19=19′; ‘No 83 19=8′; ‘No 84 19=17′; ‘No 85 19=15′; ‘No 86 19=18′; ‘No 90 19=19′; ‘No 94 19=17′ and ‘No 95 19=13′
10 in. (25.4 cm.) diam.
The George II plates 1,290 oz. (40,123 gr.)
(70)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 February 1746
‘To 7 dozn ½ of Plates 1794 oz. 6 dwt. 8/7 £770 1s. 2d’ (part)
d.)
A SET OF EIGHTEEN GEORGE II SILVER SOUP-PLATES
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, FOUR 1745 AND FOURTEEN 1746
Each shaped circular and with reeded and shell borders, each engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked underneath, further engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No1 20=17′; ‘No 2 20=17′; ‘No 3 21=7′; ‘No 4 21=6′; ‘No 5 21=5′; ‘No 6 20=15′; ‘No 7 20=11′; ‘No 8 20=19′; ‘No 10 21=4′; ‘No 11 21=7′; ‘No 12 21=1′; ‘No 13 21=7′; ‘No 14 21=5′; ‘No 15 20=14′; ‘No16 20=19′; ‘No 17 20=13′; ‘No 19 20=3′ and ‘No 78 20=4′
10 in. (25.6 cm.) diam.
363 oz. 12 dwt. (11,308 gr.)
(18)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 February 1746
‘To 7 dozn ½ of Plates 1794 oz. 6 dwt. 8/7 £770 1s. 2d’ (part)
e.)
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE II SILVER SECOND-COURSE DISHES AND COVERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped circular and with reeded and shell borders, the domed covers with applied foliate scroll strapwork and central reeded handles, each dish and cover engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked under dish and on cover, the covers and dishes each engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 1 29=0 and 31=6′; ‘No 2 30=6 and 31=13′; ‘No 3 28=18 and 30=9′ and ‘No 4 29=6 and 31=14′
the dishes 12½ in. (31.6 cm.) diam.
228 oz. 2 dwt. (7,094 gr.)
(8)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 and 17 February 1746
‘To 30 Dishes 1152 oz. 14 dwt. 9/1 £523 10s. 6d’ (part)
‘To 22 Dish Covers 871 oz. 10 dwt. 9/7 £417 12s’ (part)
‘To Graving 22 Crests and Corts Large 4 8s’ (part)
f.)
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE II SILVER SECOND-COURSE DISHES AND COVERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped circular and with reeded and shell borders, the domed covers with applied foliate scroll strapwork and central reeded handles, each dish and cover engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked under dish and on cover, the covers and dishes each engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 5 32=15 and 37=4′; ‘No 6 33=12 and 38=0′; ‘No 7 34=2 and 37=11′ and ‘No 8 31=18 and 36=8′
the dishes 13¼ in. (33.5 cm.) diam.
271 oz. 10 dwt. (8,443 gr.)
(8)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 and 17 February 1746
‘To 30 Dishes 1152 oz. 14 dwt. 9/1 £523 10s. 6d’ (part)
‘To 22 Dish Covers 871 oz. 10 dwt. 9/7 £417 12s’ (part)
‘To Graving 22 Crests and Corts Large £4 8s’ (part)
g.)
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE II SILVER MEAT-DISHES AND COVERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped oval with shell handles and reeded and shell borders, the domed covers with applied foliate scroll strapwork and central reeded handles, each dish and cover engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked under dish and on cover, the covers and dishes each engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 9 25=7 and 28=10′; ‘No 10 23=0 and 27=5′; ‘No11 24=13 and 27=12′ and ‘No 12 24=6 and 27=19′
the dishes 13½ in. (34.2 cm.) wide
199 oz. 2 dwt. (6,192 gr.)
(8)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 and 17 February 1746
‘To 30 Dishes 1152 oz. 14 dwt. 9/1 £523 10s. 6d’ (part)
‘To 22 Dish Covers £871 oz. 10 dwt. 9/7 £417 12s’ (part)
‘To Graving 22 Crests and Corts Large £4 8s’ (part)
h.)
A SET OF EIGHT GEORGE II SILVER MEAT-DISHES AND FOUR COVERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped oval with shell handles and reeded and shell borders, the domed covers with applied foliate scroll strapwork and central reeded handles, each dish and cover engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked under dish and on cover, the covers and dishes each engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 13 27=9 and 31=12′; ‘No 14 26=15 and 31=9′; ‘No 15 27=19 and 30=16′; ‘No 16 28=11 and 30=2′; ‘No 17 28=10′; ‘No 18 28=5′; ‘No 19 27=19′ and ‘No 20 27=12′
the dishes 14 1/8 in. (36 cm.) wide
329 oz. 6 dwt. (10,244 gr.)
(12)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 and 17 February 1746
‘To 30 Dishes 1152 oz. 14 dwt. 9/1 £523 10s. 6d’ (part)
‘To 22 Dish Covers 871 oz. 10 dwt. 9/7 £417 12s’ (part)
‘To Graving 22 Crests and Corts Large £4 8s’ (part)
i.)
A SET OF FIVE GEORGE II SILVER MEAT-DISHES AND FOUR COVERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped oval with shell handles and reeded and shell borders, the domed covers with applied foliate scroll strapwork and central reeded handles, each dish and cover engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked under dish and on cover, the dishes each engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 21 46=4′; ‘No 22 46=5′; ‘No 23 45=12′, ‘No 24 48=4′ and ‘No 25 47=0′, the covers each engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 17 50=18′; ‘No 18 50=8′; ‘No 19 50=18′ and ‘No 20 50=8′
the dishes 18 in. (45.5 cm.) wide
416 oz. 7 dwt. (12,949 gr.)
(9)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 and 17 February 1746
‘To 30 Dishes 1152 oz. 14 dwt. 9/1 £523 10s. 6d’ (part)
‘To 22 Dish Covers 871 oz. 10 dwt. 9/7 £417 12s’ (part)
‘To Graving 22 Crests and Corts Large £4 8s’ (part)
j.)
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE II SILVER MEAT-DISHES, TWO COVERS AND TWO MAZARINES
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped oval with shell handles and reeded and shell borders, the domed covers with applied foliate scroll strapwork and central reeded handles, each dish and cover engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked under dish and on cover, the dishes each engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 27 74=16′; ‘No 28 78=5′; ‘No 29 76=10′ and ‘No 30 74=4′, the covers each engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 21 81=3′ and ‘No 22 79=6′, the mazarines engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 1 27=5′ and ‘No 2 26=18′
the dishes 21½ in. (54.6 cm.) wide
494 oz. 18 dwt. (15,394 gr.)
(8)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 and 17 February 1746
‘To 30 Dishes 1152 oz. 14 dwt. 9/1 £523 10s. 6d’ (part)
‘To 22 Dish Covers 871 oz. 10 dwt. 9/7 £417 12s’ (part)
‘To Graving 22 Crests and Corts Large £4 8s’ (part)
‘To 4 Fish Plates 93 oz. 9/7 £44 11s. 3d’ (part)
k.)
A GEORGE II SILVER SALVER
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Shaped circular on four scroll feet and with reeded and shell border, engraved with a coat-of-arms below an earl’s coronet within a band of shells and scrolling foliage, marked underneath, further numbered and engraved with a scratchweight ‘No 1 120=10′
21 in. (53.3 cm.) diam.
115 oz. 6 dwt. (3,587 gr.)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 February 1746
‘To 1 Large & 10 Smaller Waiters 362 oz. 2 dwt. 11/1 £200 13s 2d’ (part)
l.)
A PAIR OF GEORGE II SILVER SALVERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped circular on four scroll feet and with reeded and shell border, each engraved with a coat-of-arms below an earl’s coronet within a band of shells and scrolling foliage, each marked underneath, further numbered and engraved with a scratchweight ‘No 2 59=9′ and ‘No 3 58=18′
15 in. (38 cm.) diam.
111 oz. 2 dwt. (3,456 gr.)
(2)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 February 1746
‘To 1 Large & 10 Smaller Waiters 362 oz. 2 dwt. 11/1 £200 13s 2d’ (part)
m.)
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE II SILVER WAITERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped circular on four scroll feet and with reeded and shell border, each engraved with a coat-of-arms below an earl’s coronet within a band of shells and scrolling foliage, each marked underneath, further numbered and engraved with a scratchweight ‘No 4 19=6′; ‘No 5 19=8′; ‘No6 19=8′ and ‘No 7 19=1′
9½ in. (24.1 cm.) diam.
70 oz. 12 dwt. (2,197 gr.)
(4)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 February 1746
‘To 1 Large & 10 Smaller Waiters 362 oz. 2 dwt. 11/1 £200 13s 2d’ (part)
n.)
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE II SILVER WAITERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746
Each shaped circular on four scroll feet and with reeded and shell border, each engraved with a coat-of-arms below an earl’s coronet within a band of shells and scrolling foliage, each marked underneath, further numbered and engraved with a scratchweight ‘No 8 11=14′; ‘No 9 11=18′; ‘No 10 11=6′ and ‘No 11 11=5′
7¾ in. (19.7 cm.) diam.
41 oz. (1,275 gr.)
(4)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 February 1746
‘To 1 Large & 10 Smaller Waiters 362 oz. 2 dwt. 11/1 £200 13s 2d’ (part)
o.)
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE II SILVER CANDLESTICKS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1748
Each on spreading circular base and four shell feet with fluted baluster stems, with spool-shaped sockets and plain fixed nozzles, each engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked under base, further engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 1 23=4′; ‘No 2 24=6′; ‘No 3 24=4′ and ‘No 4 22=11′
9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm.) high
90 oz. 17 dwt. (2,825 gr.)
(4)
p.)
A SET OF EIGHT GEORGE II SILVER SAUCEBOATS AND FOUR SAUCE-LADLES
THE SAUCEBOATS WITH MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, 1746, THE LADLES APPARENTLY UNMARKED, CIRCA 1746
Each shaped oval on three scroll feet and with reeded and foliage borders and leaf-capped scroll handles, the ladles cast with foliage and shells and with shell cast bowls, each engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, the sauceboats each marked underneath, further engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 1 23=12′; ‘No 2 23=1′; ‘No 3 23=1′; ‘No 4 22=9′; ‘No 5 22=15′; ‘No6 23=4′; ‘No 7 16=16?’ and ‘No 8 17=5′
six 8½ in. (21.6 cm.) wide and two 7¼ in. (18.4 cm.) wide
175 oz. 2 dwt. (5,447 gr.)
(12)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 9 February 1746
‘To 10 Sauceboats & 10 Spoons 232 oz. 17 dwt. 11/1 £129 1s’ (part)
q.)
A PAIR OF GEORGE II SILVER CRUET-STANDS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, CIRCA 1746
Each on four scroll feet, the sides pierced with shells and scrolls and with leaf-capped scroll handle, fitted with two cut-glass bottles, each with detachable silver cover with bud finial, each engraved underneath with a crest below an earl’s coronet, each marked underneath with maker’s mark only struck four times, further engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 1 21=11′ and ‘No 2 21=16′
7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm.) wide
50 oz. 8 dwt. (1,567 gr.) weighable silver
(2)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 17 February and 2 May 1746
‘To 4 Cruet Tops 7 oz. 16 dwt. 6/1 £2 7s 6d’
‘To 4 Tops for gls Cruets 2 oz. 10 dwt. 6/1 15s 2d’
‘To making £3 3s’
r.)
A PAIR OF GEORGE II SILVER BOXES AND COVERS
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, CIRCA 1746
Each oval and on openwork spreading foot, chased with shells, scrolls and with reeded borders, with two handles, the domed covers with trailing foliage and bud finials, each engraved underneath with an initial ‘K’ below an earl’s coronet, each marked underneath with maker’s mark only struck three times, each engraved underneath with number and scratchweight ‘No 1 20=19′ and ‘No 2 21=13′
6 in. (15.2 cm.) wide over handles
41 oz. 15 dwt. (1,299 gr.)
(2)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 17 February 1746 ‘To 2 ovill [sic] and 4 round boxes 83 oz. 14 dwt. 6/1 £25 9s 1d’ (part)
‘To making 7/6 £31 7s. 9d’ (part)
s.)
A SET OF FOUR GEORGE II SILVER CONDIMENT-VASES
MARK OF GEORGE WICKES, LONDON, CIRCA 1746
Each baluster on openwork spreading foot, chased with shells and scrolls, the domed covers chased with trailing foliage and with bud finial, each engraved with a crest below an earl’s coronet, further engraved underneath with an initial ‘K’ below an earl’s coronet, each marked underneath with maker’s mark only, further engraved with a number and scratchweight ‘No 1 10=3′; ‘No 2 10=8′; ‘No 3 10=1′ and ‘No 4 10=9′
5 in. (14 cm.) high
40 oz. 8 dwt. (1,256 gr.)
(4)
The Rt. Honble. The Earl of Kildare, Debtor 17 February 1746
‘To 2 ovill [sic] and 4 round boxes 83 oz. 14 dwt. 6/1 £25 9s 1d’ (part)
‘To making 7/6 £31 7s. 9d’ (part)
