A GEORGE I SILVER TAZZA

A nearly identical example, by the same maker and of the same date is in the Domcha collection. It is also engraved with a lozenge-of-arms within an identical later cartouche to the present example. Christopher. Hartop notes in the catalogue of the collection (C. Hartop, Geometry and the Silversmith The Domcha Collection, Cambridge 2008, pp. 39-40, no. 21) the rarity of polygonal salvers.

There are two sale records of a 26 ounce salver by Thomas Mason, 1717. The first on 22 March 1906, lot 116 and the second on 22 May 1913, lot 233. Without further information about the engraved coat-of-arms it is impossible to be certain if these are the same salver appearing twice or the present salver and the example from the Domcha collection. The example sold in 1906 was sold by Sir Samuel Montagu Bt. which suggests that it is most likely the Domcha example, which is engraved with the arms of Montagu quartering Monthermer, though this is by no means certain. The second salver was sold as part of the collection of Clarence Wilson, Esq. of Grove Place, Nursling and 105 Mount Street.