Britannia Silver

London, 1713

Maker’s mark of Anthony Nelme

The coat-of-arms are those for family Stone.

Length: 35 cm, 13.8 in

Weight: 1,002 g, 32 oz 4 dwt

The shaving bowl if elegant simple design typical of Britannia silver of the early 18thcentury. Engraved with a contemporary coat-of-arms to one side of the bowl.

This is an important Queen Anne shaving dish, made in London in 1713 by the royal silversmith Anthony Nelme. The colour and condition of this dish is absolutely exceptional and it has survived in the most remarkable original condition for over 300 years. The piece has been beautifully engraved with a contemporary coat of arms which is almost certainly that of the Stone family, probably for Andrew Stone who was one of the founders of Martins Bank.

There are very few surviving silver shaving dishes from this date or earlier. The Ashmolean Museum has in their collection, a travelling shaving set by Anthony Nelme made in London, 1710 but this is smaller in scale made to be used on campaign. There are a handful of other earlier examples that exist. The earliest to survive is probably a set of jug, basin and soap box of 1682 in the Gilbert Collection, engraved with the crest of Bridges. Other early examples of the form include a set of 1689 with the arms of William III, a jug and basin of 1691 in the Assheton-Bennett collection, and a jug with spout, by Thomas Ker, Edinburgh, 1702.Another set of jug and basin, by John Eckfourd, of 1703. So aside from the 1689, 1691 & 1703 sets this seems to be one of the very earliest known surviving English Silver shaving dishes.

It is a remarkable piece of silversmithing. The simplicity in its designs means that the silversmith had nothing to hide behind, in the form of engraved, chased or cast decorations, and therefore the rewas no room for error. Therefore it took great skill to achieve this flawless design and only a silversmith on the level Anthony Nelme could have created a piece like this. Overall it is both a beautiful object and also an important piece in the history of English Silver.