John Pollock

This is a rare and very fine George II cream cut made circa 1750 by John Pollock. The jug is marked on the underside four times with the makers mark only which is not uncommon with smaller items such as cream jugs as it was away of avoiding paying the duty.

Cream jugs of this quality from this period are particularly rare and they are often in very worn condition due to heavy usage. This piece is beautifully decorated throughout with fabulous rococo motifs and the chasing and engraving is still extremely crisp. Furthermore this cream jug retains a lovely original engraved coat of arms which appear to be for Bankes impaling Morgan for Robert Bankes (1699 - 1748) and Catherine Morgan (b.1698) of Winstanley Hall, near Wigan in the County of Lancashire, who were married on the 20th January 1729.

Robert was the fourth but eldest surviving son of Thomas Bankes (1659-1728), of Winstanley Hall and his wife, Anne Cholmondeley (c.1655), the daughter of Thomas Cholmondeley, (1627 - 1702) MP of Vale Royal in the County of Cheshire and his first wife, Jane Tollemache (c.1631 - 1666) the daughter of Sir Lionel Tollemache, 2nd Bt (1591-1640). Catherine was the only daughter of Edward Morgan (b.1669), of Golden Grove in the County of Flintshire and his wife, Frances Bankes (1670-1745).

Robert was educated at Peover and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1718). High Sheriff of Lancashire, 1742. Fellow of the Royal Society, 1736-46. He inherited Winstanley hall from his father in 1728. The banks family left Winstanley hall in the 1960’s and it was eventually sold in the early 21st century.