A
pair of George III silver baskets by Thomas Heming,
of oval form, the centres engraved with the arms
of George Fermor, 2nd Earl of Pomfret and
his wife
Anna Maria Draycott,
beneath basket weave sides,
the swing handles of guilloche form
with leaf terminals.
The 2nd Earl of Pomfret was Lord of the Bedchamber to George III.
In 1764, at the age of forty-two, he married
Anna Maria Draycott, who was
some fifteen years his junior
and a considerable heiress.
The Countess was painted
by Sir Joshua Reynolds in her peeress’ robes.
This pair of baskets was acquired from Thomas Heming,
Principal Goldsmith to the King
from 1760 to 1782.
The purchase was possibly made to celebrate the birth of the Fermors’ eldest son
George, later 3rd Earl of Pomfret,
in January 1768.
A charismatic example of Heming’s interpretation
of the neo-classical style,
they are engraved with
the couple’s coat of arms and motto
‘Hora E Sempre’ (‘Now and Always’).
Thomas Heming,
London, 1767.
Length 30cm
Prices on application
For additional information regarding the above piece please contact Wartski