A GEORGE III AMBASSADORIAL SILVER TABLE-SERVICE, MARK OF GEORGE SMITH AND WILLIAM FEARN, THOMAS NORTHCOTE AND WILLIAM SUMNER, LONDON, 1789 AND CIRCA 1789

A GEORGE III AMBASSADORIAL SILVER TABLE-SERVICE
MARK OF GEORGE SMITH AND WILLIAM FEARN, THOMAS NORTHCOTE AND WILLIAM SUMNER, LONDON, 1789 AND CIRCA 1789
Old English Thread pattern, engraved with the Royal crest of George III within the Garter motto and below the Royal crown, comprising:
Twenty-four table-spoons Twenty-four table-forks
Twenty-four dessert-spoons Twenty-three dessert-forks
Eight basting-spoons A salad-fork
A soup-ladle A pair of asparagus-tongs
A pair of sugar-tongs
Two Fiddle pattern sauce-ladles, 1790
All contained in a felt-lined brass-bound oak canteen
the case 21 ¾ in. (55.5 cm.) wide
220 oz. 2 dwt. (6,845 gr.)

Provenance
Almost certainly supplied to Alleyne FitzHerbert, later 1st Baron St. Helens (1753-1839) as Ambassador to The Hague (1789-1790) or Madrid (1790-1794) and by descent.
Lord St Helens and Sir William FitzHerbert The Collections of a Diplomat and a Courtier; Christie's, London, 22 January 2009, lot 576.

Saleroom Notice
Please note that there are 24 dessert forks in this service, not 23 as stated in the catalogues.