A George III silver regimental entree dish and cover from The Picton Service

A George III silver regimental entree dish and cover from The Picton Service,

by Paul Storr, London 1814,

rectangular form, fluted decoration, chased anthemion border, the leaf capped fluted handle with lion masks and with a beaded border, engraved with the Picton arms and 'Third Division', the base with a shell and gadroon border, and engraved with a crest, both sections numbers '1', length 32cm, approx. weight 77.5oz.

Provenance: a Private Collection of Regimental Silver.

At the close of the Peninsular war in April 1814, the General Staff and Officers of the regiments who had served under Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton in the 'Fighting' third Division, commissioned a magnificent and generous dinner service to be presented to their Commander.

Picton enjoyed a short retirement before he was called on again by The Duke of Wellington to face Napoleon, where he took command of the 5th Division.

At the Battle of Waterloo, in the early afternoon of the 18th June 1815, General Picton was killed by a musket ball to the head. he was the most senior officer killed at Waterloo.

Six pieces from the Picton service were sold at Christie's, New York, Important Silver, 14 April 2005, lot 181.

A pair of candelabra from the service were sold at Christie's, New York, Important Silver, 17 May 2011, lot 160.

This entree dish was purchased at Woolley and Wallis, Salisbury, Silver Sale, 30 January 2008, lot 160.