WILLIAM BECKFORD FAMILY INTEREST. An important George III Neo Classical Covered Pagoda Bowl & Stand. Made in London in 1788 by Henry Green.

This very rare piece of silver stands on a sixteen sided stand with slightly raised rim.  The stand is engraved with prick dot panels and an outer border of foliate scroll work interspersed with flower heads and oval medallions.  The bowl stands in a central ring and is engraved with identical designs as seen on the stand.  The pagoda inspired pull off cover terminates in a ball finial and is also engraved with the same designs.  Each piece is engraved with the contemporary script initials TW and the interior of the cover is engraved with the contemporary inscription:

 “ Nov the 20^th, The Gift of Mrs Beckford to Thomas Wildman Aged 15 Months 1788”

Mrs Beckford refers to Mrs William “Alderman” Beckford, mother of the famous novelist, consummately knowledgeable art collector, politician and builder William Beckford, reputed to be the wealthiest man in England in 1781.  Their seat was Fonthill Splendens in Wiltshire.  It is known that the Beckford and Wildman families were friends.  A portrait of Mrs Beckford, painted in 1799 by Benjamin West is shown.

Thomas Wildman refers to Colonel Thomas Wildman 1787 – 1859 who was an officer in the Napoleonic Wars, a draftsman and landowner.  He was the nephew of the political reformer John Horne Tooke and friend of Lord Byron at Harrow.  In 1816 he married Louisa Preisig.  At the Battle of Waterloo he was aide-de-camp to Lord Uxbridge.  His unfinished portrait, by Thomas Lawrence, is shown together with an image of his seat, Newstead Abbey.

The Wildman family had obtained Quebec estate, a large sugar plantation in Jamaica, from William Beckford, who was having financial problems.  Beckford's portrait, by Joshua Reynolds, is attached at end of the image stream.  The wealth generated from this plantation provided Wildman with the means to purchase Newstead Abbey in 1817 for £ 94,000.  The Abbey was owned by his old school friend, Lord Byron, who like Beckford, was having financial difficulties.  He was considered to be the man who saved the Abbey as he spent over £ 100,000 restoring it.  He amassed a large collection of Byron memorabilia there.  A portrait of Colonel Wildman is enclosed, painted in 1831 by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

Henry Green had workshops at 62 St Martin’s Le Grand when this piece was made.  Its design is so unusual we feel that it must have been a special commission.

Height: 5.25 inches, 13.13 cm

Diameter of the Stand: 8.25 inches, 20.63 cm

Weight: 27oz.