Rare English William IV sterling silver cruet with four bottle stand - London 1836, mark of R J & S GARRARD

of shaped square form with side handle resting on four foliate feet, finely engraved and openworked with plant motifs, accompanied by four English cut glass bottles. Sterling silver, fully hallmarked London 1836-1837, silversmiths R & Garrard.

The founder of the firm was George Wickes who was apprenticed to Samuel Wastell in 1712 and free in 1720. His first mark was entered in 1722. He entered his Panton Street marks in 1735 and it is clear from the surviving Garrards' ledger that this is when he began an independent existence. The firm was known successively as George Wickes, Craig & Wickes, George Wickes, Wickes & Netherton, Parker & Wakelin, Wakelin & Taylor, Wakelin & Garrard and when Robert Garrard took sole control in 1802 it had already been established in Panton Street for sixty-seven years. On his death in 1818 he was succeeded by his three eldest sons Robert Garrard (junior), James Garrard and Sebastian Garrard, trading as R J & S Garrard. James Garrard appears to have retired c.1835 and from then until 1843, the year in which they succeeded Rundell, Bridge & Co as Crown Jewellers, they traded as R & S Garrard. From 1843 they were known as R & S Garrard & Co. and from 1909 they have traded as Garrard & Co Ltd .

Total height 18 cm; base 16 x 13.5 cm, stand height 11.5 cm. Total weight 1782 g.

Item condition grading ***** excellent.

Accompanied by Ce.S.Ar. Centro Studi Archeometrici certificate of auntenticity.

(Ref. Jackson's p.62 - John Culme, 'The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths', Woodbridge 1987, Vol.1 p. 172, vol.2 p. 252 - Arthur G Grimwade, 'London Goldsmiths 1697-1837 Their Marks & Lives', London 1976, p. 168-519 -Elaine Barr, 'George Wickes, Royal Goldsmith', London 1980 -Christopher Lever, 'The Story of Garrards', The Connoisseur, June 1974.