A SET OF EIGHT GEORGE III SILVER DINNER PLATES

The arms are those of Rowley with Dawson in pretence, for Admiral Sir William Rowley K.B. (circa1690-1768) and his wife Arabella (d. 1784), daughter and heiress of Thomas Dawson (d.1705) of Castle Dawson, co. Londonderry, whom he married before 21 July 1729. The baronets’s badge is later engraved, presumably during the lifetime of his second son Admiral Sir Joshua Rowley (1734-1790), who was created a baronet in 1786. The present lot was almost certainly commissioned by his grandson Sir William Rowley 2nd Bt. (1761-1832), the arms being engraved to match an existing service, by Edward Feline, 1747, five dinner-plates of which were sold Christie's New York, 29 April 1986, lot 127. (12). Another set of twelve plates dinner plates by Paul Storr, 1808, with matching arms was sold Christie's, London, 17 November 2009, lot 345.