An outstanding pair of George III Tureens and Covers made in London in 1810 by Thomas Robins.
An outstanding pair of George III Tureens and Covers made in London in 1810 by Thomas Robins.
375371
The Tureens are of a good large size and are modelled in an oblong form. Each stands on four very unusual raying shell feet which display flaming acanthus leaf mouldings where they are attached to the main body. The sides rise to an everted rim, which is decorated with gadrooning. The side handles are decorated with reeding and are also attached to the main body with acanthus mouldings. Each has a stepped, pull-off, cover which is slightly domed and decorated with a band of lobing. The covers terminate in a crossed branch handle, which rests on a raying shell platform. Each tureen is in excellent condition and is fully marked on the base and on the edge of the cover. Both sides of the main body are engraved with a contemporary shield Armorial, surrounded by a plume and shell cartouche. Each side of the cover is also engraved with a contemporary Crest, with motto above and scroll work below.
The arms are Colquhoun impaling Deacon. The crest is that of Colquhoun. James Colquhoun (1780-1855) married Catherine Deacon (1787-1871) in Canterbury on 10th August 1810, therefore these were almost certainly a wedding gift. Colquhoun briefly attended St, John's College, Cambridge from 1797-1798. By 1806 he was private secretary to Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville and in 1809 was Deputy Agent-General for the payment of volunteers pressed into military service under the Volunteer Act of 1804. He was Hanseatic Consul in Great Britain for Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck from 1817 to 1855. In 1827 he was also Consul General in Britain for the King of Saxony and in 1848 charge d'affaires in London for the Grand Duke of Oldenburg. For this he was made a commander of the Royal Saxon Order of Civil Merit and became Chevalier De Colquhoun. He received an Hon. Doctorate of Laws from the University of Glasgow (where his father had been Provost) and was also a Fellow there.
Thomas Robins was a quite exceptional maker of Tureens and his mark is to be found mainly on components of fine silver dinner services. He had workshops in Stationers’ Hall Court, Ludgate Hill, when these Tureens were made. He was apprentice to his cousin, John Robins, a silversmith of fine quality.
Length: 8 inches, 20cm.
Width: 5 inches, 12.5 cm.
Height: 5.75 inches, 14.38 cm.
Weight: 58oz the pair.
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 married Catherine Deacon (1787-1871) in Canterbury on 10th August 1810, therefore these were almost certainly a wedding gift. Colquhoun briefly attended St, John's College, Cambridge from 1797-1798. By 1806 he was private secretary to Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville and in 1809 was Deputy Agent-General for the payment of volunteers pressed into military service under the Volunteer Act of 1804. He was Hanseatic Consul in Great Britain for Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck from 1817 to 1855. In 1827 he was also Consul General in Britain for the King of Saxony and in 1848 charge d'affaires in London for the Grand Duke of Oldenburg. For this he was made a commander of the Royal Saxon Order of Civil Merit and became Chevalier De Colquhoun. He received an Hon. Doctorate of Laws from the University of Glasgow (where his father had been Provost) and was also a Fellow there. Thomas Robins was a quite exceptional maker of Tureens and his mark is to be found mainly on components of fine silver dinner services. He had workshops in Stationers’ Hall Court, Ludgate Hill, when these Tureens were made. He was apprentice to his cousin, John Robins, a silversmith of fine quality.Length: 8 inches, 20cm.Width: 5 inches, 12.5 cm.Height: 5.75 inches, 14.38 cm.Weight: 58oz the pair. ){kind=link}