A Set of Eighteen Octagonal Dessert Plates
Silver-gilt
Fourteen plates marked: London, sterling standard, 1753-54, maker’s mark of Elizabeth Godfrey (Grimwade no. 591); marked on underside.
Four plates marked: London, sterling standard, 1848-49, maker’s mark of Daniel and Charles Houle.
Diameter: 23.5 cm, 9.25in

The octagonal plates have gadroon and shell borders and are engraved with a coat of arms and a crest and ducal coronet.

The arms are those of Roger Hope Elletson who was Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica and the crest is that of Grenville.

In 1775 Hope-Elletson’s widow, Anne Eliza, married James Brydges, 3rd Duke of Chando who had inherited the title in 1771; she was wealthy in her own right having inherited her first husband’s estates in Jamaica including the Hope plantation. The couple spent most of their time at their home at Alvington rather than at Stowe. The Duke died in 1789 and his widow who became insane lived until 1813. They had only one surviving daughter Anna Eliza who went on to become 1st Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos.

The plates appeared in the Stowe Sale, held on the premises following the bankruptcy of the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, between 15th August and 5th October 1848. The silver table plate was sold on day seventeen of the sale on 5th September and these plates appear under the sub-heading ‘Gilt’ and are listed as: lot 135, fourteen octagonal silver plates with gadroon and shell decoration. They are listed as weighing 218.5 ounces and the fourteen George II plates are just an ounce lighter than this. The fitted wooden case must date from when the four additional plates were added to the set.

Artist Biography:
No records exist for the apprenticeship or freedom of Benjamin Godfrey. However, it is almost a certainty that he was under the employment of Abraham Buteux. Godfrey married Buteux's widow, Elizabeth, in 1732 and entered his first marks in the same year. He was recorded at the same address in Norris Street, Haymarket when his subsequent marks were registered in 1739 and 1741. Huguenot influence is evident in his fine plate, but rococo designs can also be found among his works. Elizabeth entered her mark alone, also in 1741, and is described as the goldsmith, silversmith and jeweller to the duke of Cumberland. It is not known if Benjamin worked with her after this date.