DESCRIPTION

Antique 19th Century early-Victorian Solid Silver wall plaque / sideboard dish, impressive size and weight, richly gilt, of oval form in the style of the 16th / 17th Century silver sideboard dishes, the border with scrolling foliage and angels, slanted gadrooned rim, the centre is finely chased depicting "The Bath of Venus" a charming scene after a painting by the painter Francesco Albani (1578-1660).

The dish bears an extremely important memorial inscription: "To The LORD BURGHLEY on his Marriage 1875". Brownlow Cecil, 4th Marquess of Exeter (1849-1898), was a British peer and politician. He married Isabella, daughter of Sir Thomas Whichcote, 7th Baronet, at Stamford in 1875 and the triumphal wedding is recorded by a series of engravings published on "The Graphic", 18 September 1875.

A similar presentation inscription can be found on a pair of electrotype rosewater dishes and ewer by Elkington, part of the Collection of Burghley House (please follow[ this link](http://vi.vipr.ebaydesc.com/collections/collection/a-pair-of-electrotype-rosewater-dishes-and-a-ewer-frederick-elkington-birmingham-1875/)).

The dish is Hallmarked English silver (925 standard), London, year 1838 (C), Maker's mark crowned "ISH" (John Samuel Hunt, senior partner in Hunt & Roskell, successors of the Paul Storr firm, the most important English Royal silversmiths of all time).

CONDITION

In Great Condition - No Damage.

SIZE

Width: 69 x 59cm

Weight: 2720g

REFERENCE NUMBER: A4068